Peter Petrel, German Schlager and jazz singer, dies at 86

German singer and entertainer Peter Petrel has died at the age of 86. He passed away on September 18, 2026, in Koblenz, surrounded by his family. His wife, Tina, described his passing as peaceful, noting that he was able to say a final telephone goodbye to his son.

Petrel, born Peter Sauer, achieved massive fame in the 1970s as part of the duo The Windows alongside Jeannie McKinley. Their hit song ‘How Do You Do?’ reached number one on the German charts and sold over 1.3 million copies. He also found success as a member of the Hamburger Rentnerband and as a solo artist with tracks such as ‘Ich bin viel zu bescheiden’.

Throughout his career, Petrel was noted for his musical versatility, moving between Schlager, pop, swing, and Dixieland. Despite his mainstream success, he remained deeply committed to his roots in jazz, earning the Golden Microphone for his jazz performances early in his career.