If you loved 80s pop music as I did, you'll likely remember the #4 pop song "Puttin' on the RItz" by Taco. In today's blog you'll learn who he is and what happened to him.
WHO IS TACO? - His name is Taco Ockerse. He's an Indonesian-born Dutch singer. Musically,Taco Ockerse hit it big in 1982 with his synth-pop rendition of Irving Berlin's "Puttin' on the Ritz." Taco Ockerse was born in Jakarta, Indonesia, on 21 July 1955, he spent many of his childhood years moving around the world, residing in the Netherlands, the United States, Singapore, Luxembourg, Belgium, and Germany. He attended the International School of Brussels, Belgium, and graduated in 1973. Afterwards, he studied interior decoration and finished acting school in Hamburg. He held lead roles in numerous school production. In 1975, he began his first professional theatrical engagements in Hamburg. In 1980, Taco married his wife Ursula. She died following an illness in 2022.
TACO STILL PERFORMS TODAY- In 2023, Taco is still active and performing. His facebook page is: https://www.facebook.com/taco.ockerse/
(Image: Comic-style artwork by TOMOYA)
WHEN DID HE FIRST RECORD? In 1981, Taco signed his first record contract with Polydor in West Germany for two record releases, whereon he released his first single, "Puttin' On the Ritz",[8] which in 1982 was issued by RCA Records for US release. His version of the song also had pieces of other Irving Berlin songs, such as "White Christmas". The single was widely played throughout the US by late summer of 1983, eventually peaking at No. 4 in September 1983 on the Hot 100 as well as No. 1 on Cashbox.
HOW POPULAR WAS "PUTTIN' ON THE RITZ"? - The song reached Number 4 on Billboard's Hot 100. It was certified Gold by the RIAA for selling over 1 million copies.
WHAT WAS HIS SECOND SINGLE? Taco's second single "Singing in the Rain" was a moderate success peaking at No. 49 in Germany, No. 46 in Canada, and No. 98 in the UK.
WHAT WERE HIS FOLLOW UP ALBUMS? - Taco's follow-up album, Let's Face the Music, was recorded in 1984 for Polydor, which peaked at No. 58 in his home of West Germany and managed to enter the Top 100 in Canada peaking at No. 92. Taco continued to record, focusing mostly on the German market with albums Swing Classics/In the Mood of Glenn Miller in 1985 and Tell Me That You Like It in 1986 for Polydor. In 1987 he recorded the self-titled album Taco. In 1989, he released two dance-singles, mostly geared to the German market. Then, between 1989 and 1996, Taco worked as an actor.
VIDEO: https://youtu.be/YsGjFh1ke44
WATCH the Official video below!
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