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 James Last (, ; born Hans Last; 17 April 1929 – 9 June 2015) was a German composer and big band leader of the James Last Orchestra. Initially a jazz bassist, his trademark "happy music" made his numerous albums best-sellers in Germany and ...

, 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 ; 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 music for a number of well-kno ...

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) was a German composer and big band leader of the James Last Orchestra. Initially a jazz bassist, his trademark "happy music" made his numerous albums best-sellers in Germany and ...

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