Felix Weber (songwriter)

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Felix Weber
Birth nameFelix Weber
Born(1960-12-01)December 1, 1960
Hassfurt, Bavaria, Germany
Origin Hassfurt, Bavaria
Genres Pop, R&B, gospel, new-age
Occupation(s) Composer, songwriter, record producer
Instrument(s) Piano, keyboards
Years active1977 – present
Website Official website

Felix Weber (born December 1, 1960) is a German composer, songwriter, and record producer known for his contributions to popular and contemporary music, particularly in the American market. Over a multi-decade career, Weber has written and produced songs for numerous internationally recognized artists across genres, earning accolades including Billboard Top 40 hits and industry awards.

Contents

Early life and education

Felix Weber was born in Hassfurt, Bavaria, Germany. At age seven, he began formal training as a classical pianist. By fourteen, Weber was performing in his first garage band, and at seventeen, he toured U.S. Army clubs stationed in Bavaria with an American cover band ("Hudson People") [1] . It was during this period that he met longtime songwriting partner Irmgard Klarmann. They produced their first record together in 1978 at the Galgenberg Studio in Stuttgart. [2]

Early career in Germany

Following his initial recording experience, Weber worked in different German recording studios, primarily at the Rainbow and Paradise Studios in Munich. There, he met drummer and producer Todd Canedy [3] , whose production expertise inspired Weber to establish his own studio. Under the duo name Klarmann/Weber, Weber and Klarmann penned numerous songs. In 1981, Weber became the keyboardist for the popular German band Relax [4] . During this period, he developed industry connections that resulted in songwriting placements for prominent German artists including Mandy Winter [5] , Bernie Paul [6] , Gry Johansen, Veronika Fischer [7] , Guillermo Marchena [8] , and Kristina Bach.

In 1986, Weber left Relax to focus on an international career as a composer and producer. He signed with Sony Music, and after that contract ended, he entered a 15-year publishing agreement with Warner/Chappell Music Germany. [9]

International career

Inspired by American music since his youth, Weber concentrated on the U.S. market. His breakthrough came in 1988 when singer Tracie Spencer reached the Billboard Top 40 with Weber's composition "Symptoms of True Love". [10] In 1989, Paul Anka recorded Weber's "Turning My Mind Back to You" for his Somebody Loves You album, produced by Humberto Gatica. [11] In 1990, The Braxtons, featuring Toni Braxton, released Weber's "Good Life." [12]

Weber achieved his first US No. 1 hit in 1992 with Chaka Khan’s "Love You All My Lifetime" from her Grammy-winning album The Woman I Am. The song earned an ASCAP award for Weber, and Billboard magazine recognized Klarmann/Weber as the "most successful German songwriters" in the American market at the time. [13] [14] [15] That same year, Randy Crawford's "A Lot That You Can Do," written by Weber, reached No. 74 on the Billboard R&B chart. [16]

Over the following years, Weber’s compositions were recorded by artists including La Toya Jackson ("Bad Girl"), Leo Sayer, La Bouche (whose song "I'll Be There" was featured on the double platinum "Sweet Dreams" album). I'll be there" was also recorded by Penny Ford, co-produced with Randy Jackson, and became the signature song for the Chicago Bulls after their Three-Peat NBA championship wins. The song was also included in the Chicago Bulls documentary [17] . Weber also wrote for British Soul artist Beverley Knight, Jennifer Rush, Christian singer Kathy Troccoli, Sheree Jeacocke, Lory Bianco, Japanese pop idol Seiko Matsuda, Exposé, Duran Duran singer B.J.Nelson [18] , Nancy Wilson "Anything for your love" on her 47th studio album "If I Had My Way", and Vanessa Amorosi. He also collaborated with notable industry figures including the late Skip Scarborough, Sheb Wooley and Randy Jackson. [19]

Later career and current activities

In 2000, Weber relocated to the United States and established his own music production company, continuing his work as a songwriter and producer for a variety of artists. Between 2013 and 2016, Weber collaborated together with his songwriter and producer partners Thomas Schmitt and Irmgard Klarmann on two albums for German artist Maria Voskania [20] (who rose to fame through Deutschland sucht den Superstar (DSDS), the German equivalent of American Idol). During this period, Weber also began focusing on writing and producing for Christian music artists, expanding his repertoire to include contemporary Christian genres. [21]

Discography and production credits

Notable songwriting and production credits

Notable songwriting and production credits
YearArtistTitle/AlbumRole(s)Notes
1988Tracie Spencer"Symptoms of True Love"SongwriterBillboard Top 40
1989Paul Anka"Turning My Mind Back to You" (Somebody Loves You)Songwriterproduced by Humberto Gatica, drums Jeff Porcaro, keyboards Robbie Buchanan, guitar Paul Jackson Jr., bass Neil Stubenhaus, strings arrangement Jeremy Lubbock
1989Sheree Jeacocke"Forever You, Forever Me"Songwriter
1989B.J. Nelson"Measure this love"Songwriterproduced by Robert Palmer
1989Jennifer Rush"For All That" (Wings of Desire)Songwriterproduced by Phil Ramone
1990The Braxtons"Good Life"Songwriter
1990Lory Bianco"Heartbreaker" (Lonely Is The Night)Songwriter
1990Seiko Matsuda"He's So Good to Me"Songwriterproduced by Maurice Starr
1991Leo Sayer"I Will Fight for You"Songwriter
1992Chaka Khan"Love You All My Lifetime" (The Woman I Am)Songwriter, ProducerUS #1, ASCAP Award, produced by David Gamson, bass Abraham Laboriel
1992Randy Crawford"A Lot That You Can Do"SongwriterBillboard R&B #74, produced by Michael Powell
1992La Toya Jackson"Bad Girl"Songwriter
1994Kathy Troccoli"I'll Be There for You"Songwriterproduced by Michael Omartian, guitar Dan Huff
1994Penny Ford"I'll Be There"Songwriter, Producer, musicianWith Randy Jackson, Chicago Bulls documentary
1995Beverley KnightThe B-FunkSongwriter, Producer, musicianlabelled "best British soul album ever" by Echoes magazine in 1995.
1996La Bouche"I'll Be There" (Sweet Dreams)Songwriter, musicianDouble platinum album
1997Nancy Wilson"Anything for your love"Songwriterproduced by Skip Scarborough

German and European pop

German and European pop credits
YearArtistTitle/AlbumRole(s)
1981–1987RelaxVariousKeyboardist, Songwriter
1980s–1990sMandy Winter, Bernie Paul, Gry Johansen, Veronika Fischer, Guillermo Marchena, Wolfgang Fierek, Kristina BachVariousSongwriter

Work with Maria Voskania

Maria Voskania collaborations
YearTitle/AlbumRole(s)Collaborators
2014Lust am Lebenco-producer, Songwriter, musicianIrmgard Klarmann, Thomas Schmitt
2016Perlen und Goldco-producer, Songwriter, musicianIrmgard Klarmann, Thomas Schmitt

Contemporary Christian and other projects

Contemporary Christian & inspirational projects
YearArtist/ProjectRole(s)
2000s–presentKathy Troccoli, Coram Deo, CS Weber, 316MusicProducer, Songwriter, Arranger
2000s–presentVarious Christian and inspirational artistsProducer, Songwriter

References

  1. "Hudson People Biography". Hudson People on Bandcamp. Retrieved 2025-08-01.
  2. "Felix Weber Biography". Felix Weber Official Website. Retrieved 2025-08-01.
  3. Todd Canedy discography at *CD Universe
  4. "Relax (2) - Discogs Artist Profile". Discogs. Retrieved 2025-08-01.
  5. "Mandy Winter – Two Lovers". Discogs. Retrieved 2025-08-01.
  6. "Bernie Paul – Discogs Artist Profile". Discogs. Retrieved 2025-08-01.
  7. "Veronika Fischer – Veronika Fischer". Discogs. Retrieved 2025-08-01.
  8. "Guillermo Marchena – Time For Lovers". Discogs. Retrieved 2025-08-01.
  9. Weinert, Ellie (1992-06-27). "A New Generation Of German Writers & Producers Makes Marks The World Over". Billboard . p. 42.
  10. "Tracie Spencer Album Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2025-08-01.
  11. "Paul Anka - Somebody Loves You". Discogs. Retrieved 2025-08-01.
  12. "Braxton Family Values - 20 Fun Facts About Toni Braxton". WeTV. Retrieved 2025-08-01.
  13. Felix Weber in Billboard Magazine June 27, 1992 / page 42 / article: *"A New Generation Of German Writers & Producers Makes Marks The World Over" by Ellie Weinert
  14. "Chaka Khan - Love You All My Lifetime Credits". Discogs. Retrieved 2025-08-01.
  15. "ASCAP Awards". ASCAP Official. Retrieved 2025-08-01.
  16. Weinert, Ellie (1992-08-15). "Hot R&B Singles". Billboard . p. 16.
  17. "Chicago Bulls Documentary". Archive.org. Retrieved 2025-08-01.
  18. "BJ Nelson – BJ Nelson". Discogs. Retrieved 2025-08-01.
  19. "Felix Weber Credits". Discogs. Retrieved 2025-08-01.
  20. "Maria Voskania Album Credits". Offizielle Deutsche Charts. Retrieved 2025-08-01.
  21. "Felix Weber Christian Music Production". CCM Music News. Retrieved 2025-08-01.