Heinz Schachtner

Heinz Schachtner, born January 14, 1920 in Eichendorf, Germany, was a trumpeter and composer known for his contributions to Schlager music. He studied at the Trapp Conservatory in Munich from 1935 to 1940 before making his debut in the Munich café scene. Schachtner's breakthrough came in 1954 with his recording of "Verdammt in alle Ewigkeit" (the title theme from From Here to Eternity), which reached the top 10 and earned him the first Golden Trumpet award for a European soloist. Schachtner collaborated with various artists and worked as a studio musician in Cologne from 1949 through the 1980s, including as a solo trumpeter in the WDR Big Band Cologne. Notable releases include Trompete in Gold (1966) and its subsequent series. He passed away on February 21, 2014.