Herbert Grönemeyer, born in Göttingen in 1956, studied musicology and law at the Ruhr University in Bochum, but dropped out after five semesters. He first came into contact with the theatre as a singer in the Bo-Band at the Schauspielhaus Bochum. Later he worked here as a répétiteur and wrote his first compositions in 1974. He owes his discovery as an actor to Joachim Preen, who first brought him on stage for the play John, George, Paul, Ringo and Bert by William Martin Russell. In 1976 he became musical director at the Schauspielhaus Bochum and played further roles there. Here he also worked with Peter Zadek and the choreographer Pina Bausch. Under acting director Claus Peymann he worked for several months as musical director at the Württemberg State Theatre in Stuttgart. He played in various films, including Das Boot. His musical breakthrough came in 1984 with the album 4630 Bochum. The album stayed in the Top 100 of the hit parade for 79 weeks and was the most successful album of the year in Germany in 1984. The title song Bochum became the unofficial anthem of the city. His most successful album Mensch (2002) sold 3.7 million copies, including 3.15 million copies in Germany, making it the best-selling German album to date since 1975. With over 17 million records sold domestically, he is the most commercially successful contemporary musician in Germany. He also composed several soundtracks for films by director Anton Corbijn. In 2000 he was awarded the 1 Live Krone for his life's work, in addition he received the Echo Pop and Comet awards for several years and the Grimme Prize in 1988. In 2015 he received the Golden Camera for Best Musician nationwide. In addition, he has now been awarded the Echo for Best Artist National Rock/Pop. He is jointly responsible for the music and lyrics of the performance Herbert in the direction of Herbert Fritsch at Schauspielhaus Bochum.