TACO - TACO OCKERSE
Singer - Entertainer - Actor - Composer - Song writer - Script writer - Producer
B I O G R A P H Y

Born to Dutch parents in Jakarta/Indonesia on July 21, 1955, Taco spent his childhood in the Netherlands, U.S.A., Singapore, Luxembourg, Germany and Belgium, visited everywhere the "International School Of America" and graduated 1973 in Brussels/Belgium.

1975
First professional theatrical engagements in Hamburg: "Children's Theater", member of the "Thalia Theater" ("Sweet Charity", "Chicago", "Three Musketeers", etc.). Direction plus choreography for "Nightchild" a musical.

1979
Played "Chino" in "West Side Story" at Hamburg opera house!
Founding of his first band "TACO'S BIZZ" - extensive touring throughout Germany!
First commitments as "Back-up and demo singer" for various recording studios plus lyricist assignments.

1981
First record contract with Polydor: 2 releases "Grand Prix d´Eurovision".

1982 RELEASE OF "PUTTIN' ON THE RITZ"

Produced by David Parker, arranged by Werner Lang and David Parker
Engineer Frank Reinke, mixed by Frank Reinke
Synthesizers: Moog – John Groves and Werner Lang, Poly 61 & Poly Six – Werner Lang, Prophet – John Groves 
Recorded at PEER Studio, Hamburg, September 1982

1983-84
Extensive touring throughout Europe!
Album release of "AFTER EIGHT" in over 40 countries.
-----

GOLD and PLATINUM in Scandinavia and Canada!
GOLD for over one million copies sold in the United States!

-----
Numerous European awards, first tour throughout the U.S. with American musicians.
-----
No. 1 in Canada, New Zealand, Scandinavia and Austria, No.4 in South Africa, No. 5 in Australia .... not to mention Top 10 rankings in many other countries!
-----
Guest appearances on the annual "Bob Hope TV-Show", "Merv Griffith", "Alan Thicke", "Solid Gold", "Good Morning America", "Saturday Night Fever", plus numerous local TV-Shows whilst touring!
-----
Meeting the REAGANS at the "White House", making No. 4 in the BILLBOARD CHARTS, No. 1 in the  CASH BOX CHARTS plus "SINGER OF THE YEAR AWARD"!
-----
Release of the album "Let's Face The Music", tour throughout Japan. Won the
"BEST SINGER AWARD" at the Tokyo Music Festival with the song "Sayonara"! Continous touring and promo work. Wrote lyrics and sang title song "Beware Of The Winners"  for the movie "Lassiter".

1985
Release of "Swing Classics" with Polydor. Many T.V. appearances around Europe, live venues with renowned big bands.

1986
Release of the album "Tell Me That You Like It". Continuous touring plus T.V. and radio work!

1987
Release of "Got To Be Your Lover" by Teldec.....

1988
Release of "Love Touch". Personality show "Curtain Call" at the Macadam Theatre. Extensive song writing + numerous gala shows!

1989 - 91
Austria tour. Television acting roles: "Friedrichstadt Palast"+ "Das Erbe der Guldenburgs". Movie appearance in "Karniggels". Sang title song for the movies "Bodo" + "Go Trabi Go".
"Lady Of My Heart" + "Heartbreak City" released by Ariola!

1992
"Tico Tico" released by Polydor. Various T.V. shows. Album production in Athens, Greece. Played "Cico" in the theatre production "Marx Brothers Radio Show".

1993
Start of a new trilingual music project "Taron X".
"The Glory Of Love" released. Taro Music Publishing founded! Numerous T.V. shows, continuous commercial spots on radio + T. V. (Chocolate Chew).

1994 - 96
Lead role (Dr. Propero) in Berlin's longest running musical "SHAKESPEARE ROCK N ROLL"!
Associated with K.L Music Production as producer, singer- song writer. K.L. products currently are "Dana Dragomir" and "Kid Creole And The Coconuts".
Movie and T.V. scores the new Taco album.
The lead role in "Shakespeare As We Like It" in Austria!

1997
Extensive studio work as composer, lyricist, commercials.

2000 - 08
Release of the CD "Soul Brothers" with Jeff Harrison. Extensive work as script writer. Continuous work as gala artist with the "Moonlight Affair" and "Brooklyn Bridge, The Band".
Occasional T.V. appearances.

2009
Appearance in the Russian TV show "Songs of the 20th Century" in the sequence of the 30's!
-----
On November 27, 2009 performance with "Puttin' on the Ritz" at the Olympic Stadium in Moscow, Russia.
-----
New program "Swing & Soul" with his band.
-----
Appearance with „Puttin' On The Ritz“ at the NEW YEAR'S EVE SHOW in Moscow/Russia. Almost 84,000,000 viewers in more than 20 countries!

2010
Release of an entirely new re-recording of "Puttin' On The Ritz" by Cleopatra Records/Los Angeles!!! TACO's vocals were recorded in Germany and the backing tracks with top musicians in their studio in L.A.

2011
On March 1st, DingDing Music released the original song “Timeless Love” that was written and produced by Edgar Rothermich and Matthias Muentefering in the late 80s. This studio recording that Taco performed as a duet with the female singer Rozaa Wortham in Berlin was remixed in late 2010 in the US and is now available with the permission of Taco as an exclusive download track.
-----
Appearance with „Puttin' On The Ritz“ at THE ULTIMATE CHART- SHOW (THE MOST SUCCESSFUL EVERGREENS OF ALL TIME) of RTL/Germany!
-----
TV SHOW "INTRECEREA ANILOR" of TVR/Romania: Appearance with „Puttin' On The Ritz“ and „Cheek To Cheek!

2012 - 16
Continuous work as gala artist in Germany.
-----
August 31, 2013: NDR 90,3 Kultnacht, Alsterdorfer Sporthalle - Hamburg.
Taco performs "Puttin' On The Ritz", "Singing In The Rain" and his "Swing Medley"!
-----
July 5, 2015: ZDF Fernsehgarten - Mainz/Germany
Taco performs "Puttin' On The Ritz".
-----
December 30, 2016:
Tribute to Fred Astaire Gala, Parkhotel Schönbrunn - Vienna/Austria

Taco performs his greatest hits as well as "Puttin' On The Ritz 2017", a brand-new Electro swing version!

2017
February 4: Release of the EP "Puttin' On The Ritz 2017"!

Born to Dutch parents in Jakarta/Indonesia on July 21, 1955, Taco spent his childhood in the Netherlands, U.S.A., Singapore, Luxembourg, Germany and Belgium, visited everywhere the "International School Of America" and graduated 1973 in Brussels/Belgium.

1975
First professional theatrical engagements in Hamburg: "Children's Theater", member of the "Thalia Theater" ("Sweet Charity", "Chicago", "Three Musketeers", etc.). Direction plus choreography for "Nightchild" a musical.

1979
Played "Chino" in "West Side Story" at Hamburg opera house!
Founding of his first band "TACO'S BIZZ" - extensive touring throughout Germany!
First commitments as "Back-up and demo singer" for various recording studios plus lyricist assignments.

1981
First record contract with Polydor: 2 releases "Grand Prix d´Eurovision".

1982 RELEASE OF "PUTTIN' ON THE RITZ"

Produced by David Parker, arranged by Werner Lang and David Parker
Engineer Frank Reinke, mixed by Frank Reinke
Synthesizers: Moog – John Groves and Werner Lang, Poly 61 & Poly Six – Werner Lang, Prophet – John Groves 
Recorded at PEER Studio, Hamburg, September 1982

1983-84
Extensive touring throughout Europe!
Album release of "AFTER EIGHT" in over 40 countries.
-----
GOLD and PLATINUM in Scandinavia and Canada!
GOLD for over one million copies sold in the United States!
-----
Numerous European awards, first tour throughout the U.S. with American musicians.
-----
No. 1 in Canada, New Zealand, Scandinavia and Austria, No.4 in South Africa, No. 5 in Australia .... not to mention Top 10 rankings in many other countries!
-----
Guest appearances on the annual "Bob Hope TV-Show", "Merv Griffith", "Alan Thicke", "Solid Gold", "Good Morning America", "Saturday Night Fever", plus numerous local TV-Shows whilst touring!
-----
Meeting the REAGANS at the "White House", making No. 4 in the BILLBOARD CHARTS, No. 1 in the  CASH BOX CHARTS plus "SINGER OF THE YEAR AWARD"!
-----
Release of the album "Let's Face The Music", tour throughout Japan. Won the "BEST SINGER AWARD" at the Tokyo Music Festival with the song "Sayonara"! Continous touring and promo work. Wrote lyrics and sang title song "Beware Of The Winners"  for the movie "Lassiter".

1985
Release of "Swing Classics" with Polydor. Many T.V. appearances around Europe, live venues with renowned big bands.

1986
Release of the album "Tell Me That You Like It". Continuous touring plus T.V. and radio work!

1987
Release of "Got To Be Your Lover" by Teldec.....

1988
Release of "Love Touch". Personality show "Curtain Call" at the Macadam Theatre. Extensive song writing + numerous gala shows!

1989 - 91
Austria tour. Television acting roles: "Friedrichstadt Palast"+ "Das Erbe der Guldenburgs". Movie appearance in "Karniggels". Sang title song for the movies "Bodo" + "Go Trabi Go".
"Lady Of My Heart" + "Heartbreak City" released by Ariola!

1992
"Tico Tico" released by Polydor. Various T.V. shows. Album production in Athens, Greece. Played "Cico" in the theatre production "Marx Brothers Radio Show".

1993
Start of a new trilingual music project "Taron X".
"The Glory Of Love" released. Taro Music Publishing founded! Numerous T.V. shows, continuous commercial spots on radio + T. V. (Chocolate Chew).

1994 - 96
Lead role (Dr. Propero) in Berlin's longest running musical "SHAKESPEARE ROCK N ROLL"!
Associated with K.L Music Production as producer, singer- song writer. K.L. products currently are "Dana Dragomir" and "Kid Creole And The Coconuts".
Movie and T.V. scores the new Taco album.
The lead role in "Shakespeare As We Like It" in Austria!

1997
Extensive studio work as composer, lyricist, commercials.

2000 - 08
Release of the CD "Soul Brothers" with Jeff Harrison. Extensive work as script writer. Continuous work as gala artist with the "Moonlight Affair" and "Brooklyn Bridge, The Band".
Occasional T.V. appearances.

2009
Appearance in the Russian TV show "Songs of the 20th Century" in the sequence of the 30's!
-----
On November 27, 2009 performance with "Puttin' on the Ritz" at the Olympic Stadium in Moscow, Russia.
-----
New program "Swing & Soul" with his band.
-----
Appearance with „Puttin' On The Ritz“ at the NEW YEAR'S EVE SHOW in Moscow/Russia. Almost 84,000,000 viewers in more than 20 countries!

2010
Release of an entirely new re-recording of "Puttin' On The Ritz" by Cleopatra Records/Los Angeles!!! TACO's vocals were recorded in Germany and the backing tracks with top musicians in their studio in L.A.

2011
On March 1st, DingDing Music released the original song “Timeless Love” that was written and produced by Edgar Rothermich and Matthias Muentefering in the late 80s. This studio recording that Taco performed as a duet with the female singer Rozaa Wortham in Berlin was remixed in late 2010 in the US and is now available with the permission of Taco as an exclusive download track.
-----
Appearance with „Puttin' On The Ritz“ at THE ULTIMATE CHART- SHOW (THE MOST SUCCESSFUL EVERGREENS OF ALL TIME) of RTL/Germany!
-----
TV SHOW "INTRECEREA ANILOR" of TVR/Romania: Appearance with „Puttin' On The Ritz“ and „Cheek To Cheek!

2012 - 16
Continuous work as gala artist in Germany.
-----
August 31, 2013: NDR 90,3 Kultnacht, Alsterdorfer Sporthalle - Hamburg.
Taco performs "Puttin' On The Ritz", "Singing In The Rain" and his "Swing Medley"!
-----
July 5, 2015: ZDF Fernsehgarten - Mainz/Germany
Taco performs "Puttin' On The Ritz".
-----
December 30, 2016:
Tribute to Fred Astaire Gala, Parkhotel Schönbrunn - Vienna/Austria
Taco performs his greatest hits as well as "Puttin' On The Ritz 2017", a brand-new Electro swing version!

2017
February 4: Release of the EP "Puttin' On The Ritz 2017"!
Singer - Entertainer - Actor - Composer - Song writer - Script writer - Producer