Deutscher Schlagerstar im Alter von 86 Jahren verstorben

German Schlager singer Peter Petrel has died at the age of 86. A family acquaintance confirmed the death, which was previously reported by Bild. Petrel passed away on Friday surrounded by his family in his home town of Koblenz. His wife described how he "fell asleep peacefully," adding that he had been able to say goodbye to his son by phone before his passing. She noted the moment was calm and that he did not experience pain. Born on April 14, 1940, in Bad Frankenhausen, Thuringia, Petrel initially gained recognition as a jazz singer. He achieved his greatest success with the hit song "How Do You Do?" in 1972, recorded with Jeannie McKinley as the duo Windows, which reached number one on the German charts. Later, Petrel continued to enjoy success both as a solo artist and with the Hamburg Pensioners Band, including the hit "Hamburger Deern," a German version of The Scaffold's "Liverpool Lou." Throughout his career, Petrel remained committed to jazz, performing internationally and collaborating with various jazz groups. In 1981, he won the German Record Prize for his Dixieland album "Happy Music Every Day." He later performed under the name "Swinging Petrels" and worked with multiple jazz ensembles. His musical journey took him to North America and Asia, and in 2000, he was honored as an honorary citizen of New Orleans. In 2015, Petrel faced a serious health setback after suffering a stroke shortly after receiving the "Nord Award" for his lifetime achievements. After six weeks in a hospital and rehabilitation, he returned to the stage. Despite this challenge, he continued to perform and remain active in the music scene until his death.