Heinz (singer)

Heinz
Background information
Birth name	Heinz Henry George Schwarz
Born	24 July 1942 Detmold, Free State of Lippe, Germany
Died	7 April 2000 (aged 57) Eastleigh, Hampshire, England, UK
Genres	Pop music
Instruments	Bass, vocals, guitar
Years active	1962–'70s
Labels	Decca, Columbia (EMI) (UK) Tower (US)
Associated acts	The Tornados

Heinz Burt (24 July 1942 – 7 April 2000) was a German-born bassist and singer, who performed under the stage name Heinz.

Heinz was born Heinz Henry George Schwarz in Detmold, but from the age of seven was brought up in Eastleigh, Hampshire, England. His German father was killed during World War II and his mother decided to relocate to England. Heinz was influenced by the US singer Eddie Cochran and played in a local Eastleigh group, the Falcons, in the 1950s. Working in a Southampton grocery shop Heinz came to the attention of record producer Joe Meek, becoming his protégé. Meek styled Heinz's image, which included persuading him to peroxide his hair. Heinz was a member of the Tornados, famous for their multi-million selling hit "Telstar". With Meek in love with Heinz, he struggled to launch him on a solo career. Due to the inadequacies of Heinz's voice, his vocals were over-dubbed on his first single "Dreams Do Come True" by another singer (a Meek artist named Mark Douglas/Billy Gray but whose real name was William Halsey), the single being a commercial failure. With Meek vigorously promoting Heinz, he was sent on a tour with Gene Vincent and Jerry Lee Lewis. Audiences did not take to him and he was attacked on stage and had beans thrown over him (to a contemporary audience 'Heinz' would have been associated with Heinz Baked Beans). His next and biggest selling solo hit was "Just Like Eddie", a tribute to Eddie Cochran. Its success coincided with the emergence of the Beatles and was the high point of commercial success for Heinz. Two successful EPs, Heinz and Live It Up, followed and 1963 he appeared in the British music-film Live It Up!, with music produced by Meek, in which he acted the role of Ron and also contributed a song. Following a well-received tour with Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas and Bobby Rydell, Heinz was seen as belonging to an era of rock and roll as the more modern Merseybeat became more popular. He covered the Bob Dylan song "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright" which was another commercial failure. A move from the Decca label to EMI saw him gain a minor hit with "Diggin' My Potatoes". Differences of a professional and personal level with Meek appeared and with Heinz introducing his girlfriend to Meek their relationship faltered. Although he had lived briefly in Meek's flat, further disagreements over royalties saw him move out leaving some possessions behind including a shotgun. It was this shotgun with which Meek killed his landlady and then himself in 1967, and although Heinz was questioned by police they concluded he had nothing to do with their deaths.

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