Falco

Johann "Hans" Hölzel (19 February 1957 - 6 February 1998), better known by his stage name Falco, was an Austrian musician. His 1985 single Rock Me Amadeus is, to date, the only German-language song to reach No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Beginnings
Hölzel started his career in 1977 as a bass player in the Viennese bands Hallucination Company and Drahdiwaberl. Within the latter band, he wrote and performed the song Ganz Wien in 1980, which was only considered to be a filler within the band's concerts. At the same time, Hölzel took Falco as a stage name, named in reference to the now retired East German ski jumper Falko Weißpflog.