Hans-Bernd Blum (* May 23, 1928 in Hanover; † March 15, 2024 in Overath) was a composer, songwriter, producer and singer. The artist wrote many well-known pop songs, including "Beiß nicht gleich in jeden Apfel" (1966 for Wencke Myhre) and "Das schöne Mädchen von Seite 1" (1970 for Howard Carpendale). Hans Blum himself celebrated his greatest success under the stage name Henry Valentino. His single "Im Wagen vor mir" made it to number 8 in the German charts in 1977. Hans Blum was already interested in music during the Second World War. After the end of the war, he joined the Bernd Rabe Swingtett. In 1948, he founded the Geller Quintet. The formation accompanied several pop stars such as Vico Torriani and Bruce Low. At the same time, he founded the Hansen Quartet in 1950. The formation also accompanied well-known pop stars such as Fred Bertelmann and Bibi Johns, but also recorded its own records. The enterprising Hans Blum also composes several songs for the Eurovision Song Contest. He first took part in the contest in 1965 as a composer for Ulla Wiesner with the song "Paradies, wo bist Du?". Three more participations followed: Inge Brück with the song " Anouschka" (1967), Siw Malmkvist with "Primaballerina" (1969) and Ingrid Peters with "Über die Brücke geh'n" (1986). In the 1960s, he won the German Schlager Festival three times as a composer. in 1966 Wencke Myhre won with "Beiß nicht gleich in jeden Apfel", in 1968 the song "Harlekin" with Siw Malmkvist won and in 1970 Howard Carpendale came first in the competition with "Das schöne Mädchen von Seite Eins". In 1974, Hans Blum began a solo career under the stage name Henry Valentino. In 1977, he made it into the German Top 10 with "Im Wagen vor mir" at number 8, after which things became much quieter around Hans Blum. From the 1980s onwards, he disappeared from the public eye. Hans Blum dies on March 15, 2024 at the age of 95.
