Frank Farian and Highlights of a Life Boldly Lived…
Yinka Olatunbosun
Upon the recent passing of Frank Farian, the renowned German music producer, at the age of 82, the music world was reminded of a scandalous deception that had long receded into the annals of the industry.
This was what happened. In a remarkable turn of events, a dynamic pop duo consisting of a German and a French artist swiftly rose to fame after forming just a year ago. Their initial hit, titled “Girl You Know It’s True,” swiftly stormed the charts in Europe and made an explosive impact in the US. Their debut album soared past eight million sold copies, yielding three consecutive No. 1 singles and maintaining a top-10 position throughout that year.
However, before long, that entire saga was eclipsed and pushed aside into the depths of popular music history due to a scandalous downfall. When Milli Vanilli received the prestigious Grammy award for best new artist in February 1990, suspicions swirled within the music industry. Then, in a startling press conference that November, Farian confessed that the duo never sang a note on their recordings, instead relying on lip-syncing during performances. This revelation obliterated their fame; radio stations ceased playing their tracks, fans discarded their albums, and the Grammys retracted their accolade, an unprecedented move. Consequently, Milli Vanilli became synonymous with arrogance and disgraceful deception.
However, it cannot be disputed that the man responsible for establishing Boney M and Milli Vanilli left an indelible mark on the international music scene as a remarkable producer. This assertion is further strengthened by the undeniable fact that he received dual recognition in 1991, earning two prestigious 10x platinum diamond LPs for the albums of Milli Vanilli and “Boney M.” These accolades solidified his position as the most accomplished producer in the history of popular music.
In 1994, Farian founded La Bouche, followed by the creation of the group No Mercy, both of which achieved widespread success worldwide. Three years later, he was bestowed with the esteemed “Echo” award for his outstanding contributions to the industry. Notably, Farian’s production work extended to artists like Meat Loaf, resulting in an astounding 800 million record sales globally. It is with this unparalleled achievement that he claims the title of the most successful and influential German pop producer, leaving behind a multifaceted musical legacy.
As documented in a biography written about him by Christian Wolfgang Barth, Farian was born into a family touched by both triumph and tragedy. Farian’s father, a skilled furrier, met his fate as a soldier during the Second World War in Russia’s Smolensk region. Raised alongside his older siblings, Hertha and Heinz, Farian’s musical journey began when his perceptive mother, Cilli, a teacher by profession, recognised his melodic voice and encouraged his involvement in the church choir. Fueling his passion for rock ‘n’ roll, Farian took a bold leap by investing his hard-earned savings in audio equipment, paving the way for his emergence as a musician under the stage names Frankie and later Frank.
In the early 1960s, he formed a band called Frank Farian and the Shadows and embarked on a series of bar tours. By 1963, he took matters into his own hands and independently released their debut record, limited to 1,000 copies. A significant moment arrived for the group, now known as Schatten, in 1964. They found themselves among a select few German bands invited to perform at the prestigious International Rock Festival held at the famed Starclub in Hamburg. Three years later, Farian secured a record deal with Ariola, but the band eventually disbanded, leaving Farian to forge his path as a solo artist and producer.
With a desire for commercial success, Farian shifted his focus towards creating hit songs. This decision garnered him an appearance on the esteemed ZDF hit parade in 1969. In 1971, he signed a lucrative production contract with Hansa-Berlin, a partnership that thrives to this day. However, Farian’s true breakthrough came in 1976 with the formation of his new group, Boney M. Their explosive single, Daddy Cool, captivated audiences across Germany and Europe, cementing their place in the charts. The follow-up hit, Sunny, further propelled Boney M’s popularity, and their debut album, Take the Heat of Me, soared to unprecedented sales heights. Yet, the intense and demanding nature of the industry took its toll on him.
Farian’s life took an unexpected turn when, at the tender age of 36, he suffered a heart attack. A remarkable talent in the culinary arts, he surprised the world in 1978 by securing a coveted spot in the Guinness Book of Records. His immensely popular single, “Mary’s Boychild,” captured the hearts of listeners worldwide, selling a staggering 175,000 copies in a single day and amassing a phenomenal 2.2 million within four weeks—a feat unheard of at the time. In recognition of his exceptional achievements, he was honoured with the prestigious “Carl Allen Award,” while even Queen Elizabeth II herself acknowledged “Boney M” as England’s most triumphant pop group.
Soon thereafter, Farian’s reputation flourished within the international music community, with him collaborating with renowned luminaries like Stevie Wonder. It was in his Rosbach studio during 1982 that Wonder produced his chart-topping global sensation, “I Just Called to Say I Love You.”
Following a life-saving heart transplant surgery in 2022, Farian chose to live away from the limelight until his recent passing. In a heartfelt tribute, Milli Vanilli expressed their condolences and bid farewell to the incomparable music icon, Frank Farian, who peacefully departed this world in his Miami residence, leaving an indelible mark at the age of 82.
