Günter Platzek (18 July 1930 in Hanover, Germany – 29 November 1990 in Hamburg, Germany) was a German keyboard player. He became known for his longtime work with the

James Last Orchestra The James Last Orchestra was a German/multinational big-band orchestra. The orchestra was established in 1964 as a studio orchestra, led by jazz musician Hans Last. The orchestra started touring in 1968 and has been very popular worldwide. From 1 ...

, of which he was a member from 1965 up until his death. He was also a member of the NDR (Norddeutscher Rundfunk, or North German Radio) big band, the Alfred Hause tango orchestra and the

Bert Kaempfert Bert Kaempfert (born Berthold Heinrich Kämpfert; 16 October 1923 – 21 June 1980) was a German orchestra leader, multi-instrumentalist, music producer, arranger, and composer. He made easy listening and jazz-oriented records and wrote the musi ...

orchestra. An accomplished keyboard, accordion and xylophone player, he formed an accordion duet group called The Pop Kids with fellow Last bandmate Harald Ende. His work with

James Last James Last (, ; born Hans Last; 17 April 1929 – 9 June 2015), also known as Hansi, was a German composer and big band leader of the James Last Orchestra. Initially a jazz bassist (Last won the award for "best bassist" in Germany in each of ...

featured his unique improvised piano phrases, which drew on jazz, blues and rock influences and were played with a distinctively dry staccato tone.Bob Willox, ''James Last'', 1975; James Last Appreciation Society magazine, May 1976 During the 1980s, his accordion duet with Jo Ment on the song "Biscaya" became a highlight of

's live concerts. He died in Hamburg from a heart attack on 29 November 1990.

References

1930 births 1990 deaths Musicians from Hanover 20th-century German musicians 20th-century German male musicians {{Germany-musician-stub