Born Klaus Honsel in 1937, Franco grew up singing in the renowned Bielefeld Children's Choir before training as a graphic artist. His path to fame began in 1958 when he entered the talent show Toi, Toi, Toi , hosted by German TV legend Peter Frankenfeld. His voice caught the attention of producers, earning him a recording contract almost immediately. Mandolinen und Mondschein (1959)
In 1959, he released "Mandolinen und Mondschein" (Mandolins and Moonlight), a German cover of Perry Como's "Mandolins in the Moonlight". It became a massive success, even rivaling a version released by the era's superstar, Peter Alexander. Bobby Franco - Mandolinen und Mondschein (Schla...
By 1962, he began transitioning away from pop music, adopting the name Bob Franco to focus on theater and musicals. The Tragic End of a Singing Career Born Klaus Honsel in 1937, Franco grew up
The story of and his 1959 hit "Mandolinen und Mondschein" is a classic tale of the German Schlager era—a moment of meteoric success that funded a lifelong dream, followed by a career-altering tragedy. The Big Break Mandolinen und Mondschein (1959) In 1959, he released
While Franco was finding success on the stage—performing in major productions like My Fair Lady and Hello, Dolly! —his music career was cut short by a freak tragedy. His manager, , was killed in a plane crash, which effectively ended his momentum as a recording artist.
Franco used the royalties from this hit to pay for his true passion: acting school .
Though his time at the top of the music charts was brief, Franco enjoyed a long and respected career as a stage and television actor in Munich and across Germany until he passed away in 2016. Bobby Franco CD: Schlager-Raritäten - Bear Family Records
