James Last German composer, arranger and conductor. Date of Birth: 17.04.1929 Country: Germany

Biography of James Last

James Last was a German composer, arranger, and conductor. He started his career as a bassist in Hans-Guenther Oesterreich's Radio Bremen Dance Orchestra in 1946. Two years later, Last formed the Last-Becker Ensemble. During the years 1950 to 1952, Last was recognized as the best jazz bassist of the year.

In 1964, he formed his own orchestra and started writing dance arrangements of popular songs by various artists. His orchestra's debut album, "Non-Stop Dancing" (1965), achieved incredible success. Since then, under Last's leadership, the ensemble has released over 50 successful albums with a total circulation of 60 million copies. Among them, 37 are certified gold and 18 are certified platinum.

Last has consistently worked with works by authors and performers representing different and often antagonistic styles and genres, ranging from traditional folk music to alternative rock, hard rock, soul, and electronic music.

One of James Last's most famous compositions is "The Lonely Shepherd," which he performed in collaboration with Romanian musician George Zamfir. It was released in 1977 as a single in its German version, titled "Einsamer Hirte." The melody regained popularity with its inclusion in the film "Kill Bill," where it was featured alongside RZA.

James Last continues to be a highly regarded figure in the music industry, known for his versatility and ability to adapt to different musical styles.