Jørgen Ingmann was born on April 26, 1925, in Copenhagen, Denmark. He is a Danish guitarist, singer, composer, and arranger. His musical repertoire ranges from pop, easy listening, jazz, and instrumental music to rock ’n’ roll. As early as the 1940s, Jørgen Ingmann was working as a musician in various jazz ensembles. His solo career began in the 1950s. He achieved international fame with his distinctive guitar style, in which he recorded multiple guitar tracks himself. In 1959 , he released the instrumental version of “Apache.” The recording became a worldwide hit. In the U.S., the single reached No. 2 on the Billboard charts. The track became one of the most influential instrumental pieces in rock history. In the years that followed, he released numerous albums, including Apache and Other Hits (1961), Jørgen Ingmann Plays Guitar (1961), and other instrumental recordings for the international market. Beginning in the 1950s, Jørgen Ingmann worked closely with his wife, Grethe Ingmann. The duo performed as Grethe og Jørgen Ingmann. In 1963, they won the Eurovision Song Contest in London with the song “Dansevise,” composed by Otto Francker. This success made the couple famous throughout Europe. The single became the biggest vocal hit of his career. After the duo split up, Jørgen Ingmann once again focused more heavily on instrumental recordings and studio productions. Among his best-known releases are “Apache” (1959), “Pepe” (1960), “Echo Boogie” (1961), and “Dansevise” (1963, with Grethe Ingmann). Jørgen Ingmann is considered one of the most internationally successful Danish musicians of the 20th century. His guitar playing influenced numerous instrumental artists and producers. Jørgen Ingmann died on March 21, 2015, in Holte, Denmark, at the age of 89.
