Haddaway

Early Life

Nestor Alexander Haddaway was born in Trinidad and Tobago to a German marine biologist father and a local nurse mother. After his parents separated in the early 1970s, he lived with his father in Europe and later with his mother in America. Haddaway was raised in Chicago and moved to the Washington, DC metropolitan area at the age of 9. His musical journey began at 14 when he learned to play the trumpet, inspired by Louis Armstrong. He attended Meade Senior High School in Fort Meade, Maryland, where he joined the marching band and formed his first group, Chances. Although he enrolled in medical school in 1987, he left due to a lack of excitement and moved to Cologne, West Germany, where he worked in taverns and later founded a company named Energy, organizing fashion shows and photo shoots.

Career

Haddaway's music career took off in 1992 when he signed with Coconut Records. His debut single, "What Is Love," became a massive hit, reaching number 2 in Germany and the UK, and selling 900,000 copies in Germany alone. The song achieved Gold certification in both the UK and the US, with worldwide sales reaching 2.6 million by early 1994. His follow-up single, "Life," also performed well, solidifying his status as a prominent Eurodance artist. His first album, "The Album," was a multi-million seller, achieving Platinum status in Germany. In 1995, he released his second album, "The Drive," featuring hits like "Fly Away." The resurgence of "What Is Love" in the late 1990s, particularly through its association with Saturday Night Live and the film "A Night at the Roxbury," further cemented his legacy in pop culture.

Personal Life

Currently residing in Kitzbühel, Austria, Haddaway also maintains a home in Cologne, Germany. Since 2019, he has been actively involved in baseball as a player and sponsor for the Kufstein Wolfins, a team that won regional championships in both 2019 and 2020. His diverse interests reflect a vibrant personal life beyond music, showcasing his commitment to community and sports.