PETER MAFFAY with 'YOU'. -- 1970.

Peter Alexander Makkay (born 30 August 1949 in Braşov, Romania), better known as Peter Maffay, is a German musician.

Born in Braşov, Romania, the son of a German (Transylvanian Saxon), he was 14 when his family relocated to his parents' (West) Germany in 1963. In the same year, he started his first band, The Dukes. After completing his education and working for Chemigraphics, an art manufacturer, Maffay worked in clubs, where he distributed his music.

Peter Maffay's career started with the publication of his first single, "Du" (You in German). It was the biggest German hit in 1970 and brought Maffay instant fame. With the album Steppenwolf in 1979, Maffay became a major music star in Germany. The album sold 1.6 million copies, making it the best selling LP at that time. In 1980, the album Revanche (Revenge) broke his previous record, selling 2.1 million copies.

Maffay holds the German record for the most number one ranked singles in the single and album sales charts, including 12 albums. In addition, most of his studio albums reached the top ten. He also holds a German record for most albums to have sold over one million copies, with 14. His 2005 album,Laut und Leise (Loud and Quiet), became the fourteenth.

Altogether, Maffay has sold over 35 million records, which makes him one of the top selling artists in Germany. Since 1980, each of his 13 tours (roughly every 2 years) has ranked among the three most visited attractions each season in Germany, with nine of them ranked first in that category.

Maffay also created a string of fairy tales about a little green dragon named Tabaluga, which was spread out onto five albums. The piece was also turned into a musical. Maffay went on tour individually with Tabaluga & Lilli in Germany; he later released a live album, DVD and live TV broadcast. The tour included Peter Maffay, Alexis, Nino de Angelo, Rufus Beck, and Carl Carlton among others.

In 1998, Maffay created an album in collaboration with artists from all corners of the world, including Aboriginal singers and musicians from Israel, called "Begegnungen". Julia Neigel, another famous German artist, is one of the musicians he usually works with in lyrics and singing in duets. She wrote two of his top singles - "Freiheit Die Ich Meine" and "Siehst Du die Sonne", a cover of Michel Polnareff's "La poupeé qui fait non".

He also starred in two films directed by Peter Patzak: Der Joker in 1986, and Gefangen im Jemen in 1999, for which Tony Carey provided the soundtrack. In addition, Maffay played a supporting role in the feature Der Eisbär.

On 12 March 2011, Maffay received the Steiger Award (Germany).

Personal life

Peter Maffay is active in politics and sometimes inserts his own political stances into his music. He is a peace activist, and in 2005 he performed a concert for German ISAF troops in Afghanistan. Maffay also donates to projects for traumatised and abused children. On the Spanish island of Majorca, he established a ranch where traumatised children from all over the world can have a free two-week holiday to help them cope with their problems. For his social commitment, he received the Bundesverdienstkreuz in 1996, and, in 2001, he received an award called "Goldene Henne" ("The Golden Hen").

Peter Maffay has been married four times, has a son and lives with his family on a farm on Majorca. One of his hobbies is motorcycle riding. In 1972, Maffay was severely injured in an accident after crashing his Harley Davidson. Later in life, he crossed the Sahara Desert several times on an off-road motorcycle.

Since the beginning of Maffay's musical career, Carl Carlton has played guitar in many projects. Likewise, for many years, Bertram Engel (drums), Ken Taylor (bass), and Jean-Jacques Kravetz (piano) have worked with Maffay as well. Some time later, Jean-Jaques Kravetz brought his son Pascal Kravetz (guitar) with him into the fold. In 2004, Frank Dietz, Andreas Becker, some of Maffay's friends from the band left to pursue other projects. The American keyboard player Tony Carey, who produced many of his records also took part in his live band for many years. The newest addition to the band is the Hamburg guitarist, Peter Keller.

[joanesmemeyer]

My late husband bought this 7 single for me before we got married in 1970, still play it when I think of him 😢still miss him.

[paulmccarthy]

2024 still remember this. South African as well.

[nickycoetzer]

We all danced and kissed and cried 😢 on this song and still do ❤

[Pierre-vp]

Wow if these lyrics doesnt stir our hearts and emotions taking us back to our young and carefree days what will?

[frikvanniekerk]

Takes me back many years. Garage parties, and the best close dance song. On the side, a table with chips and peanuts. Cool drink, no alcohol .

[HeatherReid-pkwd]

Beautiful song my husband who passed away always played this song for me
Miss you my love. Rest in peace until we meet again.

[joerobb]

So many days so many heartbreaks I love this song it bring back memories of what if or maybes

[debbievanzyl]

Most beautiful love song ever sung and written

[tebraduplessis]

He was the love of my life, but I wasn't the love of his life. Many years later, I met a beautiful kind smart intelligent man. He healed the deep wounds that were crafted in 1978, I was 14 years old. Thank you to this darling man of 30 years - you are my anchor, my love and my "loads" of laughter and fun.

[karin]

Growing up in South Africa.. this song… all the school dances! Lots of memories! ❤️❤️❤️

[lynnewampach]

Peter Maffay sings this most heartfelt song to absolute perfection.

[ElGoosen]

Yes, lots of memories... South African schooldays ❤

[BlackieKitten]

❤❤❤❤greetings from South Africa 🇿🇦 this was a popular song what a beautiful song I grew up in Edenvale and stil live in Edenvale Gauteng

[sonjanewman]

❤❤Aww such A beautiful song indeed.. YOU are MY ONE and ONLY CHARMER CORDO AA .. EU AMAR VOCE' TAO' DEMAIS CARINO❤❤.
VOCE', VOCE' SIM..💯💘💘💗 SONJA ❤😘

[catzzzvd]

❤2025 SO BEAUTIFUL FROM SOUTH AFRICA ❤

[lynnewampach]

Every word is exactly how he felt towards me. And me with him. He passed away recently after 47 years of happy marriage. I play this song over and over again. Tears fall. This is the most heartfelt song ever written.
I MISS HIM SO MUCH.

[JimmieCooper-levj]

Some of the best days of my life .And the music was great !!

[ronelheydenrych]

Old memories that nobody can take away from us. Best song ever. Thinking where are all my friends in the 70's.

[davidshelton]

One word Superb, such a beautiful song..

[Namu-wu]

Wow !!! brings back beautiful memories of teenage years growing up in Carletonville. We didn't have the sophisticated JHB disco's but we had amazing parties in friends garages and highschool dances, slow dancing and smoooching for hours