Zarah Leander

Zarah Leander was born in Karlstad, Sweden in 1907. She started in cabaret and operetta, then appeared in Swedish films like 'Dantes Mysterium' in 1930. In 1936 she signed with Germany's UFA film studio, which led to roles in musicals including 'La Habanera' from 1937.

Her voice was a distinctive mezzo-soprano, and she recorded songs that became standards in German-speaking countries. Tracks like 'Warum Brauchen Denn Die Männer Soviel Liebe' and 'Davon Geht Die Welt Nicht Unter' stayed in her repertoire for decades. She worked regularly with composer Michael Jary and lyricist Bruno Balz.

After the war she faced performance bans in some places, including Sweden, but eventually returned to touring in Europe. She kept recording and performing into the 1950s and beyond, with a catalog that included 'Lili Marlene' and 'Der Wind hat mir ein Lied erzählt' among many others.