Edmund Ktscher

Edmund "Connie" Kötscher (17 April 1909 – 15 January 1990) was a German light music composer and bandleader. Born in Berlin, he studied music at the Hochschule für Musik Franz Liszt in Weimar under Max Strub and Gustav Kulenkampff. He worked as a conductor before leading his own dance orchestra. From 1933/34, he served as concertmaster at the Admiralspalast in Berlin.

In the late 1930s, Kötscher was commissioned to build an orchestra for a German shortwave broadcaster. With his dance orchestra, featuring pianist Helmuth Wernicke, he recorded several songs for Imperial and Electrola, including *Großstadtmelodie*, *Fidele Geisterstunde*, *Cabaret der Noten*, *Schön ist die Zeit der jungen Liebe*, *Sing mit mir*, and *Ich sag’ dir guten Morgen*. He composed over 2000 songs, primarily light music hits such as *Abends in der kleinen Bar* and *Liechensteiner Polka*, as well as swing-influenced pieces like *Step Boys*. His compositions also included works for accordion, big band, and orchestra, along with an arrangement of Mozart's Violin Concerto in G major. Kötscher passed away in Berlin at the age of 80.