Roger Whittaker 1936-2023

Sony Music mourns the passing of the singer Roger Whittaker, who passed away on 13 September 2023, at the age of 87.

Born on 22 March 1936 in Nairobi, Kenya, Whittaker began his music career in the UK in the 1960s and quickly gained popularity with his iconic baritone voice and versatile musical style. He became known for his folk and pop vocals, as well as his ability to master multiple genres. Whittaker sang in several languages, including English, German and French. This allowed him to appeal to a wide audience and achieve worldwide success. Especially in Germany he rose to nationwide fame and quickly established himself as a much acclaimed and popular singer.

Whittaker’s repertoire spans a wide range of musical genres, including folk, pop, and pop songs. Some of his best-known hits include his signature song “The Last Farewell,” “Durham Town (The Leavin’)”, Whittaker’s first UK Top 20 hit in the UK Singles Chart, and “New World in the Morning“, establishing him as one of the most successful British artists of his generation.

Roger Whittaker released a total of 26 albums alone in Germany (worldwide many more) and managed to grow a considerable fan base within the country. He has appeared on numerous television shows and has been celebrated worldwide for his music, before retiring from live touring in 2013.

Sony Music represents most of the recording rights of Roger Whittaker‘s music catalogue. Sony Music’s entire team offers our deepest condolences to Roger‘s family, friends and colleagues.