Franz Grothe

Franz Grothe (17 September 1908 – 12 September 1982) was a German composer, arranger, songwriter, conductor, and pianist active from the mid 1920s until his death in 1982 at the age of 73. He was a prolific composer for German cinema, and was a writer of popular songs. He was particularly known for his output of successful musical films. While principally a composer for the screen, he also wrote some musicals and operettas for the stage. Historian Robert Letellier stated that "Grothe was among the most popular German composers and conductors of the 20th century."

Grothe was required to be a member of the Nazi Party (No. 2.580.427), but flouted the party's ban on jazz music by continuing to compose in a swing style. During World War II he served as Werner Egk's deputy while Egk was in charge of the composer division of the Reichsmusikkammer. After the war he had a major success with the musical film The Spessart Inn (1958). In his later career he composed for German television and spent the last ten years of his life as chairman of the board of GEMA. He was the recipient of several awards, among them the Paul-Lincke-Ring (1966), the Filmband in Gold (1975), and the Max Reger Prize (1978).

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