Mike Kogel

Michael Volker Kogel (born 25 April 1944), also known as Mike Kennedy and Mike Keller, is a German-Spanish singer. He is best known as the lead singer of Los Bravos.

Early life Michael Volker Kogel was born in Berlin. His mother was an actor and his father worked in an actors cabaret.

Los Bravos' first album, Black Is Black, was recorded and produced in London in 1966. Because Kogel's English was still not fluent, he had to have his lyrics written out phonetically. The title track was released as a single in July 1966, and reached number two in the UK (stopped by Out of Time" by Chris Farlowe from getting to number one), number four in the US, and number one in Canada and Spain. Los Bravos are often credited as the first Spanish band to have an international hit. Mike's vocals sounded so similar to that of American singer Gene Pitney's that some people actually thought "Black Is Black" was a Pitney single.

In a 2024 interview, Kogel showed distaste for "Black Is Black": "I didn’t like "Black is Black"... I followed along without liking it. It seemed to me like an easy melody, [with lyrics] that didn't say much". Their song "Bring a Little Lovin'", written for them by recording duo Vanda & Young in 1968, went to number two in Spain and had a resurgence after featuring in Quentin Tarantino's 2019 film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

Solo In 1968, Kogel left the band to go solo. That same year, he played a supporting role in the giallo film A Lizard in a Woman's Skin, by Italian director Lucio Fulci.

Kogel sang in English, Spanish and German on his solo records; records released in Spain were recorded in mostly Spanish, but a few songs in English, and he sang in both German and English in his Germany releases. A few of his singles were recorded in one language and re-recorded in another, an example being "Nunca Olvidaré", which was translated into English and released as "I'll Never Forget".

According to Kogel, he refused to record songs written by manager Alain Milhaud, something he said in 2024 he regretted and he "should have listened to him".

After the "Black Is Black" re-recording, Kogel was not made aware that Danus and Gomez had reformed the band with newer members, but once he had, Kogel did not want anything to do with the project. When speaking to Marliska Rock show, an online programme hosted in Spain, Kogel said: "They are kids who have no effing idea. It seems to me like a lack of respect for the fans who knew Los Bravos in their classic form."

Kogel reportedly played his last professional gig in 2016.

Personal life Kogel never had children, and as of 2024 his only living relative is his uncle on his mother's side, who still lives in Germany.

Kogel suffered a fall in October 2023, and was on the floor for nearly twenty-four hours before he was discovered and ambulances were called. After leaving the hospital, he moved into a long-term care home in Vitoria-Gasteiz, in Northern Spain. He lives with a carer. Before moving into a care home, he spent fifteen years living on the fourth floor of a walk-up apartment.

He was good friends with Spanish singer Concha Velasco until her death in 2023.

Solo discography

Albums

Singles

Spanish singles

German singles