- Born
- Died
- Birth nameWilly Glahe
- Will Glahé was born on February 12, 1902 in Elberfeld, Wuppertal, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. He was an actor, known for So ein Früchtchen (1942), La Paloma. Ein Lied der Kameradschaft (1934) and Jakob the Liar (1999). He was married to Josefine Schönenkorb. He died on November 21, 1989 in Rheinbreitbach, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.
- SpouseJosefine Schönenkorb
- His "Liechtensteiner Polka" was also a hit in the U.S., hitting #16 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1957. The follow-up single "Sweet Elizabeth" (1958) appeared in all major U.S. charts, nearing the top 40 in Cashbox and Music Vendor.
- After World War II he was known as the "Polka King" in the U.S., and did both big band and folk music arrangements with his orchestra.
- He made great success with The Cuckoo Waltz by Swede E. I. Jonasson in 1969. The song is now used widely, in the Alice in Wonderland dark ride at Blackpool Pleasure Beach and in Efteling, Holland.
- He led his own orchestra from 1932 and became successful particularly in popular music.
- In the 1930s, he was, along with Heinz Munsonius and Albert Vossen, one of the most successful accordionists in Germany.
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