Rex Gildo

Rex Gildo in 1975

Rex Gildo (2 July 1936 – 26 October 1999) was a German singer of Schlager ballads who reached the height of his popularity in the 1960s and 1970s, selling over 25 million records and starring in film and television roles.[1]

Early life

Gildo was born Ludwig Franz Hirtreiter in Straubing, Bavaria; in the mid-fifties he adopted the stage name Alexander Gildo, later shortening it to Rex Gildo. For years he claimed that he had been a member of the Regensburger Domspatzen choir before attending acting school, while a documentary on German TV in 2009 revealed that in fact he had worked in a decorating apprenticeship before he met Fred Miekley, who would become his manager and longtime companion and presumably paid for Gildo's acting, dancing and singing lessons.

Career

Gildo's first performance was with the Munich Kammerspiele theatre group in 1956, but he quickly moved into television and film, as well as performing as a singer, most famously duetting with Danish singer Gitte Haenning as "Gitte & Rex".[2]

His most popular songs, such as Speedy Gonzales (1962), Goodbye Susanna (1965) and Fiesta Mexicana (1972), were popular during the 1960s and 1970s in Germany.[1] His music and films sold well there but less so abroad. He also starred in his own television program, Gestatten - Rex Gildo.[3]

During the 1980s and 1990s, Gildo's popularity decreased.[1] His appearances were mainly at folk festivals, shopping centres and other similar venues; he was also reported to have problems with alcoholism, although this may have been due to medication he was taking.[1][4][5] His final performance, on the day of his suicide attempt, was in front of more than 3000 people at a furniture shop outside Frankfurt.

Personal life and death

Gildo died in 1999 aged 63, having spent three days in an artificially-induced coma after attempting suicide by jumping from the window of his apartment building. He was said to have been suffering psychological problems.[6]

In 1974, Gildo married his cousin Marion Ohlsen in a Lavender marriage. The couple had no children and separated in 1990. After his death it was published that he was gay and had a relationship with Dave Klingeberg, his secretary, and with whom he lived for 7 years. This was in contrast to Gildo's carefully constructed image as a womanizer.

Discography

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Blom, Phillip (1999-10-29). "Obituary: Rex Gildo". The Independent. LookSmart Ltd. Retrieved 2007-10-22.
  2. ↑ Rex Gildo on IMDb
  3. ↑ "Rex Gildo: Der große Streit ums Erbe". Berliner Morgenpost (in German). 2000-10-26.
  4. ↑ Koymasky, Matt & Andrei (2007-06-25). "Rex Gildo". Archived from the original on 2007-08-07. Retrieved 2007-10-22.
  5. ↑ van der Meyden, Henk (1999-10-28). "Rex Gildo overleden". Di Telegraaf-i (in Dutch). Dagblad De Telegraaf, Amsterdam. Retrieved 2007-10-22.
  6. ↑ "German pop singer Gildo dies". Associated Press Archive. The Associated Press. 1999-10-28. Retrieved 2007-10-22.
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