Wie alles gegann
Cami and the Knickers
Maarten Hoogenboom: Lead Vocals, Conference
Wendell Heiss: Piano, Loud Vocals & Animalism
Timon Ruhemann: Drums, Bass Vocals
Cami was founded in Darmstadt in May 1985, after Wendell Heiss and Maarten Hoogenboom discovered a stack of old sheet music from the 1920s in their grandmother’s attic. In order to perform their interpretations with a bit more rhythm, they eventually found drummer and vocalist Timon Ruhemann during a jam session at Krone. Initially, their repertoire consisted mostly of Schlager and swing classics from the 1920s to the 1940s. Later on, they included rhythm and blues, doo-wop, and jive songs, and even ventured into rock and roll, which often turned their performances into lively dance parties. In the late 1980s, they would occasionally feature guest musicians such as Andreas Stellwag on double bass, Johannes Luley on jazz guitar, and Ulf Merbold on saxophone during their major gigs. The band was quite busy during this time, making various television appearances, including those with Frank Elstner on ZDF, guest appearances on shows like “Die Drombuschs,” and on the youth program “ELF 99” when it aired on RTL. They also had performances with Bill Ramsey and Mr. Pumpernickel, Chris Howland, and accompanied the legendary “Stray Cats” as support throughout Germany, from the “Große Freiheit” in Hamburg to the “Metropol” in Berlin, which were among the highlights of that era. In order to reconnect with the band’s roots, Safe, Sane & Single was formed in 1996, consisting of Maarten, Timon, and boogie-woogie player Andi Stenger. Both formations played concurrently until the band’s dissolution in 1999. During this time, Wendell Heiss formed Firenight with his wife Angie and saxophonist and devil fiddler Stoney.
Discography:
In 1988, their first doo-wop single (7″) was released, featuring the Crew Cuts classic “Sh-Boom” on the A-side, “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Chill Me” by the Flairs, and an Eddie Cochran-inspired version of “Am I Blue” on the B-side. The recording took place at Dr. Blümler’s Tone Room in Darmstadt, with Andreas Stellwag on double bass.
In 1992, their second production came to life, a CD EP with 10 tracks, including “I Want You” by the Cadets, Pee Wee King’s “Railroad Boogie,” and a shuffle version of the Comedian Harmonists hit, “Mein Kleiner Grüner Kaktus.”
Then, in 1995, their third CD and first full-length album were released, featuring 20 songs. Notably, it included “Heart & Soul” by The Cleftones, “It Ain’t The Meat It’s The Motion” by The Swallows, and Wendell’s first original composition, “Blue Rhythm Boogie.”
Both CDs were recorded at Lolo Blümler’s Sesamstudio in Darmstadt and represent a diverse mix of their bilingual repertoire.
The Fourtunes:
Maarten Hoogenboom: Tenor Vocal
Penny Steinmetz: Tenor Vocal, Guitar
Redi Kanankulam: Tenor Vocal
Timon Ruhemann: Bass Vocal
One beautiful day in 1992, the band “The Fourtunes” was formed, with barbershop singing and a cappella doo-wop at its core. The four handsome singers, each with experience from different bands, wanted to explore what they could achieve without instruments. Titles such as “Wish Me Luck Amigo,” a closed-harmony song by the Mills Brothers, “Sweet Lucy Brown” by the Larks, interpreted by ska singer Redi Kanankulam from the band Skatrek, or “Girlfriend” by the Caddillacs, were among the highlights of their repertoire. And when Penny Steinmetz let his falsetto voice resound during the doo-wop smasher “Angel,” many glasses-wearers trembled for their spectacles. Fourtunes primarily made guest appearances and performed 15 to 45-minute sets as part of shows and other music programs. When they decided to go their separate ways in the autumn of 1996, they left a significant void in the Darmstadt music scene. However, it was time to make room for young people and give them the chance to stand where they once stood.
Superdufte:
Maarten Hoogenboom: Tenor Vocal
Penny Steinmetz: Tenor Vocal, Guitar
Michel Heiss: Bass, Bass Vocal
Timon Ruhemann: Drums, Bass Vocal
With the grand goal of improving the world with good, righteous Schlager songs and timeless, profound rock anthems, three brave, young, yet versatile experienced men came together. Their fantastic Schlager show not only featured music but also included fun interactive games and a Schlager quiz, where coveted candy prizes were among the rewards. With a clever way with words and occasionally intricate choreography, they never failed to astound and bring a smile to both large and small audiences. Despite some reconfigurations along the way, they remained true to their goal until their dissolution in the year 2000, although they pursued it on partially separate paths from then onwards.
Concerts 2024:
Freitag, den 6. Dezember ab 19 Uhr
Boogie-Woogie Weihnachtsparty
Stubenrauchsaal Teltow
Marktplatz 1-3, 14513 Teltow
Eintritt 10,00 €
Freitag, den 15. November ab 14 Uhr
Cafe Rosa Louise
Samstag, den 5. Oktober ab 14 Uhr
Samstag, den 28. September von 11 – 14 Uhr
Freitag, den 20. September ab 19:00 Uhr
Wirtschaftswunder im Schlosspark Schieder-Schwalenberg
Mittwoch, 24. – Dienstag, 30. Juli um 10:00 und 16:30 Uhr
Conversationshaus Insel Norderney
Mittwoch, 03. Juli ab 20:00 Uhr
Mittwoch, 26. Juni ab 20:00 Uhr
Sonntag, 23. Juni ab 13:00 Uhr
Boogie & Brunch im Ballhaus Wedding
Montag. 20. Mai ab 10:00 Uhr, Pfingstkonzert
Im Ruderclub am Wannsee
Freitag, 12. April ab 20:00 Uhr
Yorckschlösschen
Concerts 2023:
21. Januar Magdeburg, Stübchen Hop in der Festung Mark in Brandenburg, 19:00 Uhr
04. Februar Berlin, im Yorckschlösschen, Special Guest Yvonne Ernicke 20:00 Uhr
27. April Berlin, Yorckschlösschen 20:00 Uhr
9. – 16. Mai, Insel Norderney, In der Konzertmuschel auf dem Kurplatz, Norderney, um jeweils 11:00Uhr bzw. 15.30Uhr
29. Mai, Berlin, Ruderclub RaW am Wannsee, 10:00 Uhr
3. August Berlin, im Yorckschlösschen 20:00 Uhr
4. August, Altener Sauerland, Auf der Bühne der Burg Altena, 18:00 – 22:00 Uhr
13. August, Summershelter Magdeburg, am Heyrothsberge/Bunker, Parkweg 1, 39175 Biederitz ab 12:30 Uhr
Concerts 2022:
08. Januar Berlin, im Yorckschlösschen, Special Guest Yvonne Ernicke 20:00 Uhr
15. Januar Berlin, im Loci Loft Reinickendorf, 20:00 Uhr
18. März Berlin, im Ballhaus Wedding 20:00 Uhr
25. März Berlin, im Yorckschlösschen 20:00 Uhr
08. Mai Berlin, Brunch & Boogie im Ballhaus Wedding 12:00 Uhr
14. Mai Berlin, Book ‘n’ Roll, “Die Wunderfrauen-Trilogie” im Rathaus Teltow 19:00 – 21:00 Uhr
20. Mai Berlin, Tag der Nachbarschaft im Rosa Parks Cafe 13:00 Uhr
08. Juli, Bad Pyrmonter Wirtschaftswunder, Bückeburg
17. Juli, Quedlinburg
22.-24. Juli, Eröffnung Norden Norddeich
14. August, Magdeburg, Sommer Shelter
20. August Nossen OT Schleinitz, Boogie Weekender Scheune Schleinitz
03. September, Landluft-Diebzig, ab 19:00 Uhr
11. September, Museum Eberswalde ab 18:00 Uhr
15. Oktober Norderney TBA
28. Dezember Norderney TBA
31. Dezember Berlin, Silvestergala Hotel Adlon-Kempinski
Concerts 2021:
10. Juli Bad Pyrmont, Pyrmonter Wirtschaftswunder
08. August Berlin, im Rosa Parks Cafe
26. September Berlin, im Rosa Parks Cafe
23. Oktober Berlin, im Yorckschlösschen 21:00 Uhr, alias Swing Cat Club
04. Dezember Rostock, Historischer Weihnachtsmarkt – Leider fällt dieses Konzert wegen Sturmwarnung aus!
31. Dezember Berlin, Silvestergala Hotel Adlon-Kempinski
Concerts 2020:
18. Januar Berlin, im Loci Loft Reinickendorf, 20:00 Uhr
21. März Leverkusen, Cancelled by Corona – Neuer Termin wird noch bekanntgegeben. Boogie Friends 19:00 Uhr, alias Swing Cat Club
25. April Berlin, Cancelled by Corona – im Yorckschlösschen 21:00 Uhr, alias Swing Cat Club
23. Mai Berlin, Cancelled by Corona – im Yorckschlösschen 21:00 Uhr
10. Juli Bad Pyrmont, Cancelled by Corona – Pyrmonter Wirtschaftswunder
11. September Berlin, im Loci Loft Reinickendorf, Open Air 19:00 Uhr
19. September, Werneuchen, Cancelled by Corona – Scheunentanz mit Manu Tanzratte
07. November, Berlin, Cancelled by Corona – im Yorckschlösschen 20:00 Uhr
31. Dezember, Berlin, Cancelled by Corona – Silvestergala Hotel Adlon-Kempinski
