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Karat on the occasion of their 35th anniversary in 2010: Ulrich "Ed" Swillms (3rd from right) with Bernd Römer, Claudius Dreilich, Christian Liebig, Michael Schwandt and Martin Becker
Photo: Michael Reichel / dpa
The former keyboardist of the Berlin rock band Karat, Ed Swillms, has died at the age of 76. This was announced by the management on the band's Facebook page. An employee of the management confirmed the death. Accordingly, the musician died on June 27. On Monday, he was buried in the closest circle of his family. The cause of death was not disclosed.
Born in Berlin in 1947, Ulrich "Ed" Swillms co-founded Karat in 1975. He composed numerous songs for the band, including "King of the World", "Albatros" and "Over Seven Bridges", one of the country's biggest pop hits, which the band recorded in 1978 as the theme song for the GDR television film of the same name.
It's not just Karat hits that come from the keyboardist's pen. Peter Maffay, Helene Fischer, Chris de Burgh, Heinz Rudolf Kunze, Jan Josef Liefers and Max Raabe also sing to Swillms' compositions, according to the band. "While Ed always waved his hand when he was called a genius and his very special aura was touted, credit to those who deserve credit," the band writes.
»His songs live on«
In 1987, Swillms left Karat. However, he remained connected to his band afterwards and has been a regular guest on stage since 2005.
"We really appreciate what he has done for Karat and bow to a musician who has shaped the band like no other," it continues on Facebook: "And even if it is only a small consolation for his relatives, his songs live on in us forever."
SAK/DPA