Rita Nagel, known professionally as Mary Ann Nagel, is a
German singer. Nagel is notable for being the founding member of the
Arabesque girl group in 1977.
Life and career
Mary Ann Nagel was born as Rita Nagel in 1955. She took on the pseudonym of "Mary Ann" and began to sing from a very young age. She first released children's songs: So Viele Fragen / Laß mich nicht so lang allein" in 1968 and "Pony Girl / Du Ich Lieb' Dich Candy Man" in 1972. This was followed by
schlager single "Schau Mich Nicht So Böse An / Ein Tag So Schön Wie Heut" in 1973. The singles did not have much success. Inspired by the recent success of the
Silver Convention and other girl groups, Nagel and producers sought to create another girl group.
was formed in 1977, and "
Hello Mr. Monkey
"Hello Mr. Monkey" is the debut single by German all-girl trio, Arabesque (group), Arabesque. Initially released only in Germany in 1977, it was released worldwide the following year in 1978.
Track listing
# A. "Hello Mr. Monkey" - 3:27
# B. "Bugg ...
" was released as the first single featuring lead vocals by Nagel. Her participation in the group was short-lived however, she only recorded two songs with the group: disco songs "Hello Mr. Monkey / Buggy Boy". Nagel's family life became more important than her career as a singer. She was married, had a son, and disliked the long driving from her hometown of
Karlsruhe, Germany to
Offenbach am Main
Offenbach am Main () is a List of cities and towns in Germany, city in Hesse, Germany, on the left bank of the river Main (river), Main. It borders Frankfurt and is part of the Frankfurt urban area and the larger Frankfurt Rhein-Main Regional Aut ...
, where the group was based. Mary Ann was part of Arabesque for a little over a year; she left in September 1978 and was replaced by
Heike Rimbeau
Heike Rimbeau (née Landvogt; born 17 April 1959) is a German disco singer, known for being a member of the German disco trio, Arabesque.
Life
Rimbeau began as a singer in the German group, Anyone Exact, in 1976 at sixteen years of age. By 1978, ...
.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nagel, Mary Ann
Living people
1955 births
German women pop singers