Dagmar Krause German singer Date of Birth: 04.06.1950 Country: Germany

Biography of Dagmar Krause

Dagmar Krause is a German singer, known for her work with avant-garde rock groups such as 'Slapp Happy', 'Henry Cow', and 'Art Bears'. She is also recognized for her performances of songs by Bertolt Brecht, Kurt Weill, and Hanns Eisler. Her unique singing style makes her voice instantly recognizable and defines the sound of most of the groups she has worked with.

Dagmar Krause was born on June 4, 1950, in Hamburg, Germany. She began her professional career at the age of 14, performing in clubs on the famous Reeperbahn street in Hamburg, known for its nightlife and brothels. In 1968, Krause received an offer to join 'The City Preachers', a group she jokingly referred to as the German version of 'The Mamas & the Papas'. Her vocals can be heard on their 1968 album 'Der Kürbis, das Transportproblem und die Traumtänzer'.

'The City Preachers' disbanded in 1969, but their vocalist Inga Rumpf and Krause reunited in 1970 to record 'I.D. Company', a studio project where each singer sang on one side of the LP, influencing half of the album's direction (Krause's side already hinted at her future inclination towards avant-garde rock). Hamburg at that time was a thriving scene for musical avant-garde, attracting many European musicians interested in pursuing aesthetic freedom and experimental music. Here, Krause met and later married British experimental composer Anthony Moore.

In 1972, Krause, Moore, and their American friend, singer and composer Peter Blegvad, formed 'Slapp Happy', a group they themselves labeled as 'naive rock', combining simple pop melodies with enigmatic lyrics that carried symbolic undertones. 'Slapp Happy' became the starting point of Krause's international music career. The group recorded two albums in Germany on 'Polydor Records' - 'Sort Of' (1972) and 'Acnalbasac Noom', which was only released in its original arrangement in 1980. They then moved to London, where they re-recorded 'Acnalbasac Noom' on 'Virgin Records', and the album was released as 'Slapp Happy' and also known as 'Casablanca Moon'.

In 1974, 'Slapp Happy' joined forces with their labelmates, 'Henry Cow', a politically oriented avant-garde rock group, and together they made two albums - 'Desperate Straights' (1974) and 'In Praise of Learning' (1975). However, differences in approach led Moore and Blegvad to leave. Krause, however, chose to stay with 'Henry Cow', and thus 'Slapp Happy' ceased to exist. Krause's vocals added a new dimension to 'Henry Cow's repertoire. The group toured Europe for two years and released the live album 'Henry Cow Concerts' (1976), featuring duets by Dagmar Krause and Robert Wyatt.

In May 1976, Krause, suffering from illness, had to withdraw from the demanding 'Henry Cow' tours and returned to Hamburg. In October 1977, still unable to embark on tours, she left 'Henry Cow', but agreed to sing on the recording of their next studio album 'Hopes and Fears', which eventually led to the group's dissolution and the emergence of a new one, 'Art Bears'. 'Art Bears' consisted of Krause, Chris Cutler, and Fred Frith, and together they made two albums, 'Winter Songs' (1979) and 'The World as It Is Today' (1981).

In 1986, Krause joined the new group 'News from Babel', which included herself, Chris Cutler, Lindsay Cooper, and Zeena Parkins. They recorded two albums, 'Work Resumed on the Tower' (1984) and 'Letters Home' (1985).

After 'News from Babel', Krause was involved in a series of projects and collaborations. In 1991, Dagmar Krause, Anthony Moore, and Peter Blegvad reunited to work on 'Camera', a television opera based on Krause's original concept commissioned by the British television company 'Channel 4 Television'. Krause's fascination with Weimar cabaret and her love for the works of playwright Bertolt Brecht and his musical partners Kurt Weill and Hanns Eisler became the basis for many of her solo projects.

In 1978, she performed in a theatrical production of Brecht and Weill's 'Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny' in London. In 1985, she sang Weill's 'Surabaya Johnny' in the production 'Lost in the Stars: The Music of Kurt Weill'. In 1986, Krause released two solo albums, 'Supply and Demand: Songs by Brecht/Weill and Eisler' and 'Tank Battles: The Songs of Hanns Eisler'.

Her husky and powerful contralto voice is well-suited for the emotionally rich music of these German composers, and Krause's performances are considered among the best interpretations of their works. She has performed excerpts from these albums at various venues, including the Edinburgh Festival.