The songs behind his royalty income
Anderson, whose real name is Gerd Grabowski, has written more than 1,000 songs. He credits a range of recordings for his continuing royalties, particularly Roland Kaiser's "Schach Matt" and "Lieb mich ein letztes Mal," which he co-wrote. Kaiser's performances of those songs before tens of thousands of people generate substantial royalties, Anderson said.
His own radio favorites, including "Sommer, Sonne, Cabrio" and "Sommernacht in Rom," also contribute, along with international recordings such as Engelbert's "Spanish Night Is Over" and Audrey Landers' "Manuel Goodbye." GEMA represents composers, lyricists and music publishers in Germany, collecting licensing fees for uses including public performances, broadcasts, streaming and recorded copies.
Anderson said his GEMA income was several times higher at its peak, after he discovered the Wildecker Herzbuben. Although receipts have since fallen, he said his wife remains financially secure.
Molino Verlag recounts an unusually firm prediction behind the duo's success: To persuade the then-unknown Wildecker Herzbuben to record "Herzilein," Anderson had a commitment recorded contractually that the single would sell at least one million copies. According to the publisher, that prediction came true.
A memoir and new music
Anderson's autobiography, "Sonntagskind – Mein Leben," is scheduled for February 23, 2027. Publisher Molino Verlag lists the paperback at 20 euros, with about 224 pages and a format of 13.5 by 21.5 centimeters.
The project has been a long time coming. Anderson first envisioned a biography for his 60th birthday, about 16 years ago. Another attempt around his 70th birthday stalled after two or three hours of dictation went unrecorded. For the current book, he and his producer and friend Gerd Jakobs worked from breakfast until evening, covering his life from childhood onward. His office manager, Birgit, put the account into writing, and Anderson said he was delighted when he read it.
Before the book arrives, Anderson is due to release "Killerblick" on November 6, 2026. He described having his own label at Kontor in Hamburg. Schlagerprofis.de identifies the label as JerPhi Music, with distribution by Kontor New Media. Bernd Schütze, Gerd Jakobs and Gerd Grabowski wrote the music; Schütze and Jakobs wrote the lyrics. Production is credited to Gedo Music / Gerd Jakobs.
The memoir spans a career that began in the 1960s. According to Merkur.de, Grabowski adopted the name G. G. Anderson in 1980 and reached the German Top Ten with "Mama Lorraine" in 1981. Molino Verlag says that song was initially intended for Boney M, until producer Frank Farian heard the demo and decided Anderson should record it.
A farewell tour, but no firm stopping point
Anderson once intended to retire at 75. He now says music is his only hobby, and that meeting a lyricist whose work excited him renewed his ambition after a period of leaving more of the writing to younger collaborators.
Above all, he credits audiences with keeping him onstage. He described sold-out halls while touring with Andy Borg and an appearance at Andrea Berg's Sonnenhof-Hazienda that was scheduled for 45 minutes but lasted almost two hours.
In the interview, Anderson said he planned a farewell tour for fall 2027. t-online reported a proposed October or November 2027 start, with guests including Swiss singer Francine Jordi and Wolfgang Schwalm of the Wildecker Herzbuben. His management, however, told Merkur.de that nothing was fixed and that both fall 2027 and spring 2028 were under discussion.
Even a farewell tour would not necessarily mark an immediate retirement. Anderson noted that some colleagues had stretched such tours over eight years and said he would keep performing as long as audiences did not tell him to stop.
Making peace with Kaiser and seeking a TV return
Anderson said he and Roland Kaiser have resolved the friction over his absence from Kaiser's 50th stage-anniversary celebration on the "Giovanni Zarrella Show." He had been upset not to receive an invitation despite co-writing songs Kaiser still performs, but said they had talked it through. He attributed the omission to the production's crowded lineup.
He has since offered Kaiser another song, which he thinks could also work as a duet. Anderson is seeking television appearances of his own: He has not appeared in Florian Silbereisen's Schlager shows since summer 2022 and hopes "Killerblick" will prompt producer Michael Jürgens to invite him back. He particularly wants to join the New Year's Eve "Schlagerbooom," though he said securing appearances has become difficult without a dedicated TV promoter.
Looking back at the 1970s and Dieter Thomas Heck's ZDF-Hitparade, Anderson described a music scene that felt like a large family. He said there are now fewer major television platforms, but lasting friendships remain. He named Nino de Angelo, Bernhard Brink, Claudia Jung, Andrea Berg and Nicole among his friends in the industry.
Opposition to the end of "Immer wieder sonntags"
Anderson sharply criticized the cancellation of "Immer wieder sonntags," praising host Stefan Mross and describing the Sunday morning show as a breakfast routine for millions. He linked his objections to cutbacks in Schlager radio programming at BR, NDR and MDR, saying broadcasters' savings measures made little sense to him when Schlager events could draw enthusiastic crowds of 15,000.
SWR Aktuell reported that the ARD/SWR program ended after 31 years and more than 370 episodes. SWR announced the cancellation on March 20, 2026, citing savings, and the final regular episode aired on September 6. The summer 2025 season had averaged just under 1.3 million viewers.
The show debuted in 1995, had been produced at Europa-Park in Rust since 1998 and had been hosted by Mross since 2005. Its title refers to the 1973 song "Immer wieder sonntags" by Schlager duo Cindy & Bert.
Life in Eschwege
Anderson has remained in his hometown of Eschwege despite opportunities to move. While writing for Hansa artists, he was offered an apartment near Berlin's Olympiastadion. He and songwriting partner Bernd Dietrich viewed it, but soon afterward, while stopped at a traffic light on the Kurfürstendamm, agreed they would rather stay home.
An earlier opportunity came with his English-language band Love and Tears. Anderson recalled appearing on the cover of Melody Maker, playing London's Marquee Club and traveling by private jet. CBS wanted to bring the band to London, but he said their attachment to home kept them from moving.
The interview also addressed his history of strokes, a herniated disc, depression, bowel surgery and facial paralysis. Anderson said he continued performing through the facial paralysis because his voice still worked. In 2025, he fell while checking in for a cruise ship in Italy and tore a muscle in his right shoulder.
He now reports feeling well, with physical therapy twice a week and 30 to 40 lengths in his own pool every other day. He has also stopped dyeing his hair: When he asked an audience of 5,000 whether he should color it again, he said no one raised a hand, while everyone supported leaving it gray.
Anderson described his wife, Monika, as his strongest source of support. For more than 25 years, she could not accompany him because she cared around the clock for their son Philipp, who has a disability. Philipp now receives care in a residential home a few hundred meters away, allowing Monika to travel with her husband. The couple's property in Eschwege includes three houses, a studio, a pool and garages.
