The music world says goodbye to renowned German producer Frank Farian, known for his contribution to hits such as Boney M and the Milli Vanilli scandal, who died at the age of 82 in his home in Miami, according to a statement from the agency Allendorf Media supported for his family. Although the causes of his death are unknown, everything points to natural circumstances due to his age.
Farian, born Franz Reuther on June 18, 1941 in Kirn an der Nahe, Rhineland-Palatinate, left an indelible legacy on the international music scene. He founded his first rock band, Frankie Farian.
However, his peak came in the 70s when he created the iconic disco band Boney M, which sold more than 150 million records, marking the era with hits such as Rivers of Babylon, Daddy Cool and Ma Baker.
The band has spoken out about the loss of their producer through a statement published on their X account, formerly Twitter. “At Boney M we are saddened to announce the death of Boney M. creator and producer, Frank Farian. According to family reports, Frank passed away peacefully in his apartment in Miami, Florida. Rest in peace,” they said. It should be noted that the German was the one who wrote hits like Rasputin and Daddy Cool, among others.
In the late 1980s, Farian surprised again with the duo Milli Vanilli, scoring hits such as Girl You Know It’s True and I’m Gonna Miss You. However, this project was marred by scandal when it was discovered that the members, Rob Pilatus and Fab Morvan, were not the real singers, but rather were performing backup and simply dancing. The story of this deception was brought to the screen in the recent film Girl You Know It’s True, starring Matthias Schweighöfer.
Throughout his extensive career, Farian collaborated with notable artists such as Stevie Wonder, Meat Loaf, Terence Trent d’Arby and others. His versatility as a producer earned him recognition, despite the black mark on his career caused by the Milli Vanilli episode. The musician and hitmaker was nicknamed “Mr. German Hit”, achieving worldwide fame.
Despite the ups and downs in his career, Farian always defended the importance of the right ingredients in music, comparing his work in the studio to cooking, stating: “You need a fantastic performer, you can’t do it without a good voice. And the song has to be catchy, with a good melody and a memorable chorus.”
