Felix Weber (songwriter)

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]

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]

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]

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]