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 • Edmonde Charles-Roux • George Davis (art director) • Gregor Piatigorsky • Helene Spilling • J. P. Morgan • Malcolm Browne • Pedro de Valdivia • Robert Dean Frisbie

Born in the same month (April 1929): Ed Townsend • Mike Hawthorn • Nigel Hawthorne • Paule Marshall • Ralph Slatyer • Richard Mitchell • Sharan Rani Backliwal