At 93, Freddy Quinn reveals family secrets in autobiography

At 93, Freddy Quinn reveals family secrets in autobiography

Freddy Quinn, the icon of German pop music, made a big impression with his autobiography “How it really was”. On May 22, 2025, at the age of 93, he published this book, which not only sheds light on his life behind the scenes, but also dispels some of the myths and lies presented in life. The singer, who remains unforgettable with hits like “Homesick” and “Boy, come back soon,” gives interesting insights into his eventful life in an interview with Spiegel and explains why he never went to sea, even though his image suggests that. Loud Mercury Quinn has publicly commented on his resume for years, which turns out to not always be entirely accurate.

In his book, the Viennese native, who was born Manfred Nidl, exposes a series of contradictions that have always circulated about his place of birth and his childhood. There is confusion about its origins, ranging from Pula to Niederfladnitz. Quinn himself emphasizes in his stories that his name “Quinn” comes from a US soldier and not from his biological father, about whom he hardly knew anything. NDR notes that many stories surrounding his life and his father are the product of an image created by the record industry.

On the trail of the past

His path to music began in the legendary “Washington Bar” in St. Pauli, where he was discovered by Jürgen Roland and Werner Baecker. The first record “Homesick” was released in 1956, which immediately became a hit and ultimately led to his career with over 60 million records sold. In the 50s and 60s he easily achieved ten number one hits in the German charts. These successes were often compared with the great show legends of his time such as Peter Alexander and Udo Jürgens. In addition, Quinn held the honor of representing Germany at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1956, which further increased his prestige, according to information from Wikipedia.

In the last years of his life, Quinn became quieter. After the death of his long-time partner Lilli Blessmann and his withdrawal from the public eye, he married his partner Rosi in May 2023. This marriage seems to give him happiness and stability; He himself speaks impressively positively about Rosi and describes her as the greatest happiness in his life. Quinn is now enjoying his time in Schleswig-Holstein, where he moved in 2024.

“As It Really Was” is not only intended to offer a look back at a remarkable career, but also to draw a line under the chapter in his life, says Quinn himself. It is a courageous step to reach the hearts of his fans and tell his very personal truth, which has long been in the shadow of the music industry.