Obituary - The "royal yodeler" falls silent: Fredl Fesl dead at 76
The Bavarian singer-songwriter and dialect bard Fredl Fesl is dead. He passed away on Tuesday after years of severe illness, Monika, his wife, told the German Press Agency on Wednesday. Several media outlets confirmed the information. Fesl was 76 years old. According to his wife, he had been suffering from Parkinson's disease for many years. She described his death as "redemption" for her husband.
Bavaria's Minister-President Markus Söder (CSU) reacted with great sorrow to the death of the bard. "He was a Bavarian original with witty humor and brought people to laugh and ponder," Söder wrote on X (formerly Twitter). "As a versatile artist in word and music, he was one of the pioneers of Bavarian musical cabaret, as we know and love it today."
"Creative, eloquent, and quintessentially Bavarian - that's how we will gratefully remember Fredl Fesl," Söder continued. Fesl managed to endure his severe illness, which he had fought for many years, with remarkable patience, dignity, and his own calmness. "He was also an example for many people. Bavaria will remember this great artist with an honorable tribute. In thoughts, we are with his family," Söder wrote further.
The musician from the Bavarian Forest was best known for his sometimes biting wordplay, performed in Bavarian dialect, and gained fame beyond the Free State. Fesl often played the guitar but also the tuba and horn. "The King's Yodeler" is considered one of his most famous works. People sometimes bent over in laughter when he led them to the next number with his lengthy, absurd monologues.
His illness prevented him from beloved live performances over 20 years ago. Until it was no longer possible for him health-wise in 2006, he still sat on stage. His illness made him publicly known in the media. "It's very hard to be limited in all your abilities and things you enjoy doing due to the illness," Fesl wrote in response to interview questions from the German Press Agency on his 75th birthday. He lived retired with his wife Monika in Upper Bavaria in recent years.
Fesl's career began by chance - he saved on the entrance fee to the Munich small theater by bringing his guitar. When artists were missing, they convinced him to perform.
- The news of Fredl Fesl's passing has sparked a wave of mourning on Twitter, with many artists and fans expressing their condolences and paying tribute to the Bavarian bard.
- The German Press Agency reported that several artists in Munich, where Fesl gained fame, have shared their memories of working with him and being influenced by his unique style.
- In a tribute to Fesl, the CSU political party, led by Markus Söder, announced plans to honor the late musician's memory in Bavaria, where he had a significant impact on the arts scene.
- During a press conference in Munich, Söder highlighted Fesl's contributions to Bavarian musical cabaret and his ability to use music and humor to connect with people, even in the face of adversity.
- Local newspapers in Munich and across Germany have covered the story of Fredl Fesl's death, with the German Press Agency reporting that there will be a special memorial concert in his honor this coming weekend.
- Despite his battles with Parkinson's disease, Fredl Fesl continued to inspire other artists in Munich and beyond, leaving a lasting legacy in the world of music and comedy.
