Discogs PWA

Obernkirchen Children's Choir

German children's choir. [a904512] conducted a small amateur children's and youth choir, many of whose original members were war orphans, in Schaumburg County, Northern Germany. Internationally named Obernkirchen Children's Choir, in Germany named Schaumburger Märchensänger. The choir gained international success in 1953 when a BBC radio broadcast of the choir's winning performance at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod turned the song (The Happy Wanderer) into an instant hit. On January 22, 1954, the song entered the UK singles chart and stayed on the chart—only a Top 12 at the time—for 26 non-consecutive weeks, peaking at Number 2 (for five consecutive weeks). The group performed on many international tours and recorded several albums. They made two appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show (November 29, 1964, and December 11, 1966).