Freddy Quinn

Elmar Kraushaar succeeds in getting closer to the fascination of Freddy and illuminating a truly unlikely life. A book that compellingly describes a success story - and its downfalls. Freddy - no solo artist has had more number-one hits in Germany. "Junge, komm bald wieder," "Die Gitarre und das Meer," and "Heimweh" were the biggest of his many hits. He appeared in numerous films, performed as a host, musical singer, theater actor, and circus artist, and continually presented himself as a lonely sailor, a sea bag over his shoulder, gazing at the horizon. Ultimately, he was even awarded the Federal Cross of Merit - for promoting German songs around the world. However, anyone like Elmar Kraushaar who sets out to write about this man's life quickly encounters contradictions and inconsistencies. Even the question of when and where Freddy was born has several possible answers. Kraushaar has embarked on a quest for clues - and has stumbled upon a phenomenon surrounded by many stories, akin to Potemkin villages, whose facades collapse as soon as one touches them, making way for new tales and small and large secrets.