Rolf Zuckowski

Rolf Zuckowski (born 12 May 1947) is a German singer-songwriter. He has written and composed music especially for children, but his songs are very popular among adults, too. His compositions involve children in music throughout their childhood and accompany their daily life. Meanwhile, many of his songs have attained the status of Folk songs.

He also is the father of composer and songwriter Alexander Zuckowski, who used to play bass guitar in his father's band.

Early life Zuckowski was born in Hamburg, Germany, and attended the Albrecht-Thaer-Gymnasium, where he completed his abitur. He gained his first skills and experience as a musician in school at the age of 18. He was part of the school band "The BeAthovens," where he played the guitar and sang. In 1967, he released his first album, "Happy to be happy," and began to study Economics at Hamburg University. in the entertainment television show Wetten, dass? (German for "Wanna Bet That...?").

In 1983, Zuckowski made the drafts for the album Tabaluga, for which he also composed various songs. The album turned into a great success. One year later, he developed the television show "Große Show für kleine Leute." In 1990, "Rolfs Vogelhochzeit" was shown on the German TV channel ZDF. Two years later, his song cycle "die Jahresuhr" and the new "Schulweg-Hitparade" were published as videos. In 1994, he set up his own company under the umbrella of the Universal Music Group. In 1999, he published the children's musical Der kleine Tag.

The hit theme song "We are the children of the Suderhof" from the popular children's TV show Neues vom Süderhof was composed by Zuckowski.

Zuckowski has released 45 studio albums, 1 audio play, 2 live albums, 8 Christmas albums, 9 video albums, 14 compilations, 1 boxset, and 45 singles.

Some of Zuckowski's other famous works are the songs "Wie schön, dass du geboren bist" (How wonderful it is that you were born), "Stups, der kleine Osterhase," and "Kommt wir woll’n Laterne laufen." He also writes songs for adults and sees himself as a singer songwriter for the whole family.

Awards In 1986, Zuckowski's song "...und ganz doll mich" made it into The Guinness Book of World Records as the "World’s longest song." Zuckowski used 3776 lines that had been written by children. In 1992, he received the "Christophorus Preis" for the artistic realization of the song "Schulweg-Hitparade" In 1994 and 2008, he was awarded the Echo Music Prize for his work as a composer, songwriter, artist and music producer In 2000, he received the Deutscher Musikpreis. In 2001, he was awarded the Paul-Lincke-Ring by the town of Goslar for his work in the category "popular music" In 2003, Zuckowski was awarded the German "Musikeditionspreis" for the complete works of "Rolfs Vogelhochzeit" In 2005, Rolf Zuckowski receives the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany to acknowledge his contribution to the musical development of children. In 2007, he is awarded the Goldene Stimmgabel