James Last

James Last, also known as Hansi, was a German composer and big band leader of the James Last Orchestra. Initially a jazz bassist, his trademark "happy music" made his numerous albums best-sellers in Germany and the United Kingdom, with 65 of his albums reaching the charts in the UK alone. His composition "Happy Heart" became an international success in interpretations by Andy Williams and Petula Clark.

17 April 1929

Born on the same birth day (17 April): Chuck Menville • Dnyaneshwar Agashe • George Adamski • Jason White (rugby union) • Jimmy Mann (ice hockey) • John McCririck • Jonathan Brown (Welsh footballer) • Julie Fagerholt • Lindsay Hartley • Maurice Rouvier • Stanislav Chistov • Taksin • Tyron Woodley

Born in the same month (April 1929): Adrian Cadbury • April Stevens • Bob Denard • Humbert Allen Astredo • Inez Andrews • Joe Meek • Joi Lansing • Mahmoud Mollaghasemi • Maurice Strong • Milan Kundera • Paule Marshall • Payut Ngaokrachang • Renzo De Felice • Richard Mitchell • Willis Hall • Yvette Williams