哈德威

Nestor Alexander Haddaway (born 9 January 1965), known mononymously as Haddaway, is a Trinidadian-born German singer best known for his 1993 hit single "What Is Love", which reached number 1 in 13 countries.

Born in Trinidad and Tobago to a German father and a Trinidadian mother, Haddaway was raised in Chicago and the Washington metropolitan area before moving to Cologne in the late 1980s. He was signed by the German label Coconut Records in 1992, and "What Is Love" became a substantial hit across Europe the following year, reaching number two in Germany and the United Kingdom and number 11 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Worldwide sales of the single had reached 2.6 million by the beginning of 1994.

The follow-up singles "Life", "I Miss You" and "Rock My Heart" also reached the top ten in Europe, establishing him as one of the more commercially successful Eurodance artists of the period. His debut album The Album (1993) was certified platinum in Germany, and its successor The Drive (1995) produced the UK top-twenty single "Fly Away". "What Is Love" found a second audience later in the decade through its use in the Butabi brothers sketches on Saturday Night Live and the 1998 film A Night at the Roxbury.

Early life

Haddaway was born in Trinidad and Tobago. His father was a marine biologist from Germany and his mother was a local nurse. His parents separated during the early 1970s and Haddaway first lived with his father in Europe, then with his mother in America. He was raised in Chicago and relocated to the Washington, DC metropolitan area at the age of 9. Listening to Louis Armstrong encouraged Haddaway to learn how to play trumpet at the age of 14. He attended Meade Senior High School in Fort Meade, Maryland, where he was a member of the marching band, which resulted eventually in him forming his first group, Chances. In 1987, Haddaway enrolled in medical school, but quit due to lack of excitement and relocated to Cologne, West Germany, where he mostly worked in taverns. Later, he formed his own company named Energy, which was involved in organizing fashion shows and photo shoots.

Career

In 1992, Haddaway was signed by German record company Coconut Records. His debut single, "What Is Love", rapidly became popular in Europe, reaching number 2 in Germany and the United Kingdom. In Germany, the single sold 900,000 copies. In the United Kingdom, it received a music recording certification of Gold for shipment of 400,000 units. It later reached number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified Gold for shipments of 500,000 units. By the beginning of 1994, worldwide sales of "What Is Love" reached 2.6 million.

His second single, "Life", reached number 2 in Germany, number 6 in the United Kingdom, and number 41 in the US, and its worldwide sales reached 1.5 million by 1994. The follow-up singles "I Miss You" and "Rock My Heart" also reached the Top 10 in Europe and established him as a successful Eurodance artist. His first LP, The Album (also known as Haddaway in the US), was a multi-million seller which reached Platinum status in Germany for shipments of 500,000, and Gold in the UK and in France for shipments of 100,000.

In 1995, he released his second album, The Drive, which included the UK top 20 hit "Fly Away", as well as "Catch a Fire" and "Lover Be Thy Name". "What Is Love" enjoyed a resurgence in popularity as the theme music for the Butabi brothers (Will Ferrell and Chris Kattan) on Saturday Night Live and the 1998 film A Night at the Roxbury.