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 • Doug Lewis (politician) • Gianni Raimondi • Hongseok • Lindsay Anderson • Michael IX Palaiologos • Monika Bergmann-Schmuderer • Peter Morris (surgeon) • Travis Roy • Victoria Beckham • Zhang Yaokun

Born in the same month (April 1929): April Stevens • Bob Denard • Dr. Rajkumar • Elspet Gray • Fazlur Rahman Khan • George Steiner • Joi Lansing • Mahmoud Mollaghasemi • Mike Hawthorn • Paule Marshall • Payut Ngaokrachang • Roy Hamilton • Sharan Rani Backliwal