Stefanie Hertel laments the passing of her father, Eberhard.
Eberhard Hertel, the celebrated folk music musician, reportedly breathed his last on Thursday, as per "Freie Presse". At 85, he peacefully bid adieu. The mayor of Oelsnitz, Mario Horn, was the first to announce the demise of the music legend.
"Losing a good friend leaves me saddened and shocked. I need time to process and accept this news. Oelsnitz mourns for its honorary citizen, Eberhard Hertel," said Horn in an interview with MDR Sachsen. As a token of respect, the town hall flag was lowered to half-mast.
Hertel, a household name in the former GDR, kickstarted his solo career after his debut on "Heitere Premiere" in 1976. He then became part of the "Obernhofer Bauernmarkt" television show, where his six-year-old daughter Stefanie made her musical debut with "Ich wünsche mir einen kleinen Teddybär" in 1985. Stefanie, now a renowned singer herself, won the Grand Prix of Folk Music at the tender age of 12 in 1992. In a heartwarming interview with "Freie Presse", Eberhard recalled the moment he felt his career was eclipsed by his daughter's success: "They want the little one, not the father. That was a punch to the heart, but it wasn't as bad as it initially seemed."
Performing Together, Even in His Golden Years
In a bid to boost his daughter's career, Eberhard took a backseat. They frequently duetted songs like "Wenn Vater und Tochter". Even in his solo performances, Stefanie's presence was palpable. One of his most famous songs, "Kleine Fische werden groß", spoke about his daughter growing up and the difficulty of letting her go.
Eberhard Hertel released eleven albums in total. His last album was released in honor of his 80th birthday. In 2023, he and Stefanie embarked on a Christmas tour together.
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The news of Eberhard Hertel's passing has left a void in the world of folk music, a genre he greatly contributed to. Despite his success, Eberhard found joy in supporting his daughter's pop music career, often performing duets with her.
