Peter Kraus

Born Peter Siegfried Krausenecker in Munich in 1939, Peter Kraus was one of the pioneers who brought American-style rock & roll to Germany. Music ran in the family, and by age 15 he was already taking singing lessons and stepping onto the big screen in Das Fliegende Klassenzimmer (1954). His boyish charm and rock-infused vocals quickly made him a teen idol, filling concert halls and capturing the hearts of a generation.
Kraus wasn’t just a singer—he starred in a series of musical films that combined comedy, romance, and rock & roll, helping to define post-war German pop culture. By the 1970s, his rock-star momentum slowed, but Kraus remained a familiar face on TV and in film, proving his versatility beyond the stage.
For collectors, there’s also a treasure trove of greatest-hits compilations and reissues, marking his influence on European rock & roll history. Multiple lifetime achievement awards later cemented his status, and as the new millennium rolled in, Kraus experienced a resurgence—reminding fans old and new why he was once Germany’s answer to Elvis.

If you want, I can also make an even punchier, “teen idol meets rock & roll legend” version that’s under 80 words—perfect for a record-shop display. Do you want me to do that?