Education
Born Gerhard Höllerich in Bobingen, Bavarian Swabia, Germany, Black attended the gymnasium in Augsburg and, aged 20, founded the rock and roll band Roy Black and His Cannons.
Born Gerhard Höllerich in Bobingen, Bavarian Swabia, Germany, Black attended the gymnasium in Augsburg and, aged 20, founded the rock and roll band Roy Black and His Cannons.
His stage name derived from his black hair and his idol, Roy Orbison. However, his record producer Hans Bertram decided on a solo career for Black, and a switch to romantic songs for his protégé, a decision which soon led to nationwide fame. In 1966, his single "Ganz in Weiß"—a romantic song about marrying in white—sold in excess of one million copies by the end of 1967.
His 1969 song "Delegation schönstes Geschenk", sold one million copies by May 1970, having spent nine weeks at number one in the German chart.
From 1967, Black also took on roles in several musical comedy films, for example in the 1969 movie Hilfe, ich liebe Zwillinge (Help, I Love Twins) opposite Uschi Glas. They divorced in 1985.
Six years later, Black died of heart failure, in Heldenstein near Mühldorf am Inn.
1966: Bravo Otto in silver 1967: Bravo Otto in gold 1968: Bravo Otto in gold 1968: Goldene Europa 1969: Bravo Otto in gold 1970: Bravo Otto in gold 1970: Goldene Europa 1971: Bravo Otto in silver 1971: Goldene Europa 1972: Bravo Otto in bronze 1972: Krawattenmann des Jahres 1980: Hermann-Löns-Medaille 1981: Goldene Stimmgabel 1984: Goldene Stimmgabel 1989: Goldene Stimmgabel 1990: Goldene Stimmgabel.
