Michael Cretu being interviewed in 2003.

Michael Cretu, also known as Curly M.C. (born May 18, 1957 in a suburb of Bucharest, Romania), is a Romanian musician best known as the creator of the Enigma project. His original name, Creţu, means "the curly-haired". Image File history File links Michael_Cretu_EPK.jpg Summary Screenshot of Michael Cretu in a 2003 electronic press kit interview. ... Image File history File links Michael_Cretu_EPK.jpg Summary Screenshot of Michael Cretu in a 2003 electronic press kit interview. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 2003 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... May 18 is the 138th day of the year (139th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1957 Gregorian calendar). ... Status Capital of Romania Mayor Adriean Videanu, since 2005 Area 238 km² Population (2005) 1,924,959[1] Density 8,088 inh/km² Geographical coordinates Web site http://www. ... “Instrumentalist” redirects here. ... Enigma is an electronic musical project started by Michael Cretu, his wife Sandra Cretu, David Fairstein and Frank Peterson in 1990. ...

He has worked with many producers, musicians, and artists in his long career. These include Sandra Cretu, Frank Farian, Boney M, Goombay Dance Band, Peter Cornelius, Manfred "Tissy" Thiers and Mike Oldfield in his pre-Enigma days, and Jens Gad, Frank Peterson, David Fairstein, ATB, Jam & Spoon, Peter Ries, Ruth-Ann Boyle and Andru Donalds during the course of the project. Sandra and Michael Cretu on German TV. Sandra Cretu (born Sandra Ann Lauer May 18, 1962, Saarbrücken, Germany), and professionally known as Sandra, is a popular German singer/songwriter, currently living in Ibiza (Spain). ... Frank Farian (born Franz Reuther on July 18, 1941) is a German music producer, singer, and songwriter. ... Boney M was a Eurodance, pop, and disco group, comprising four West Indian singers and dancers and masterminded by West German record producer Frank Farian, and who were successful during the 1970s. ... The Goombay Dance Band was a german-based band of the 1970s created by Oliver Bendt. ... Carl August Peter Cornelius (24 December 1824 – 26 October 1874) was a German composer, writer about music, poet and translator. ... Michael Gordon Oldfield (born May 15, 1953 in Reading, England) is a multi-instrumentalist musician and composer, working a style that blends progressive rock, folk, ethnic or world music, classical music, electronic music and more recently dance. ... Jens Gad (born August 26, 1966 in Munich, Germany) is a songwriter, producer and guitarist. ... Frank Peterson is a German music producer. ... André Tanneberger aka ATB (born 1973-02-26 in Freiberg, Saxony, Germany) is a DJ, musician and producer of trance and dance music. ... Jam & Spoon was an influential electronic dance duo from Frankfurt, Germany that consisted of composers and producers Rolf Ellmer (classically trained composer) and Markus Löffel (a DJ). ... Ruth-Ann Boyle Ruth-Ann Boyle (born April 26, 1970 in Sunderland) is an English pop singer who became famous during the 1990s. ... Andru Donalds is a musician and vocalist with a previous solo career, who is now working in collaboration with the Enigma project as lead vocalist. ...

By the year 2001, Michael Cretu had sold over 100 million albums.[1] , [2]

Background

Cretu studied classical music at Liceul Nr. 2 in Bucharest in 1965 and in Paris, France in 1968. He later attended the Academy of Music in Frankfurt, Germany from 1975 to 1978, attaining a degree in music. Cretu was taken on as a keyboard player and producer for Frank Farian, the German mastermind behind successful acts of the 1970s and 1980s such as Boney M and Milli Vanilli. Status Capital of Romania Mayor Adriean Videanu, since 2005 Area 238 km² Population (2005) 1,924,959[1] Density 8,088 inh/km² Geographical coordinates Web site http://www. ... Year 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. ... The Eiffel Tower has become the symbol of Paris throughout the world. ... Year 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar) of the 1968 Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Frankfurt (disambiguation). ... Year 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ... A B.A. issued as a certificate A degree is any of a wide range of status levels conferred by institutions of higher education, such as universities, normally as the result of successfully completing a program of study. ... Frank Farian (born Franz Reuther on July 18, 1941) is a German music producer, singer, and songwriter. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Boney M was a Eurodance, pop, and disco group, comprising four West Indian singers and dancers and masterminded by West German record producer Frank Farian, and who were successful during the 1970s. ... Milli Vanilli (milli is a word meaning national in Turkish, picked up by the artists while visiting Turkey on one of its national days) was a duo, Fabrice Morvan and Rob Pilatus, formed in Germany in the mid-1980s. ...

In the 80's Cretu took over production for the pop quartet Hubert Kah and started writing songs with the band leader Hubert Kemmler, achieving a number of hits. Among his other work, Cretu was also one of the producers of Mike Oldfield's 1987 album, Islands, specifically on the sixth track, "The Time has Come". Michael Gordon Oldfield (born May 15, 1953 in Reading, England) is a multi-instrumentalist musician and composer, working a style that blends progressive rock, folk, ethnic or world music, classical music, electronic music and more recently dance. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ...

Cretu met his future wife Sandra Lauer (later Sandra Cretu) when he was playing keyboards on the Arabesque live touring show. In collaboration with several Hubert Kah band members he co-wrote and produced several successful albums and singles for her, beginning with the song "Maria Magdalena" which topped the charts in 21 countries. The band was simply called Sandra, although Sandra's full name is now often used for filing and identification purposes. Cretu married her on January 7, 1988. They have twins named Nikita and Sebastian who were born in 1995. Sandra and Michael Cretu on German TV. Sandra Cretu (born Sandra Ann Lauer May 18, 1962, Saarbrücken, Germany), and professionally known as Sandra, is a popular German singer/songwriter, currently living in Ibiza (Spain). ... From Arabesques Video Arabesque was a famous German disco music group formed in 1977,and consisted of Sandra Cretu (came to the group in 1979), Jasmin Vetter, and Michaela Rose. ... Sandra and Michael Cretu on German TV. Sandra Cretu (born Sandra Ann Lauer May 18, 1962, Saarbrücken, Germany), and professionally known as Sandra, is a popular German singer/songwriter, currently living in Ibiza (Spain). ... is the 7th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full 1995 Gregorian calendar). ...

Another band of Cretu's was called Moti Special ("Cold Days, Hot Nights"), which Cretu produced and performed with in the mid-80s. Michael Cretu being interviewed in 2003 Michael Cretu, also known as Curly M.C. (born May 18, 1957) is a Romanian musician best known as the creator of the Enigma project. ...

He owned the A.R.T. Studios in Ibiza, before moving to a new mansion in the Ibiza hills. His new house on the wild and romantic western coast of the island Ibiza is a spectacular Moroccan style mansion and was designed and built over nine years by Bernd Steber and Gunter Wagner. It also features a brand new, state-of-the-art recording studio, from which he hopes to release more albums in the future. A.R.T. Studios Private music studio of music producer Michael Cretu in Ibiza/Spain located in his mansion in the hills of Ibiza. ... Ibiza (Catalan: Eivissa) is one of the Balearic Islands located in the Mediterranean Sea (), belonging to Balearic Islands (Spain). ... Ibiza (Catalan: Eivissa) is one of the Balearic Islands located in the Mediterranean Sea (), belonging to Balearic Islands (Spain). ...

In 1998, Cretu once again teamed up with Jens Gad (they previously worked together on Le Roi Est Mort, Vive Le Roi!) and created the album The Energy of Sound under the name Trance Atlantic Airwaves. Cretu and Gad also worked with Jamaican singer Andru Donalds, being particularly successful in Europe with a cover version of the song "All Out of Love" (1999). Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... Jens Gad (born August 26, 1966 in Munich, Germany) is a songwriter, producer and guitarist. ... Le Roi Est Mort, Vive Le Roi! (French for The King is Dead, Long Live the King!) is a 1996 music album created by the music project Enigma. ... Trance Atlantic Airwaves is a side-project from Enigmas Michael Cretu. ... Andru Donalds is a musician and vocalist with a previous solo career, who is now working in collaboration with the Enigma project as lead vocalist. ...

Cretu as a solo artist

Cretu's first solo release was the single Wild River, in 1978. His first solo album was released in 1979 and was entitled Ausgewählte Goldstücke as a German release, and Moon, Light & Flowers as an English release. Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ... Also: 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins. ... Michael Cretus first album was released in 1979 and was entitled Ausgewählte Goldstücke as a German release, and Moon, Light & Flowers as an English release. ...

Cretu's second solo album, titled Legionäre, was released in 1983. This album had German lyrics and was sung by Michael. It was co-produced and supervised by Harald Steinhauer and mastered by Armand Volker. Michael Cretus second solo album, entitled Legionäre, was released in 1983. ... Year 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar). ...

Cretu's third solo album was entitled Die Chinesische Mauer, and was released in 1985. The literal English translation of the title is "The Chinese Wall", or as it is better known, "The Great Wall of China". Like his previous album, this had German lyrics, was sung by Michael, and was co-produced by Armand Volker. This album was also released as a separate album with English lyrics and a different track listing under the name "The Invisible Man". Several of the tracks on "The Invisible Man" were edited slightly, and, therefore last for a different length than the German versions on Die Chinesische Mauer. Michael Cretus third solo album was entitled Die Chinesische Mauer, and was released in 1985. ... Year 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar). ... A section of the Great Wall near Beijing during winter The course of the Great Wall is shown in this map dated from 1805 The Great Wall (Traditional Chinese: ; Simplified Chinese: ; pinyin: , literally long city wall) is a series of stone and earthen fortifications in China, built between 5th century... Michael Cretus third solo album was entitled Die Chinesische Mauer, and was released in 1985. ...

The Enigma project

Main article: Enigma (musical project) Enigma is an electronic musical project started by Michael Cretu, his wife Sandra Cretu, David Fairstein and Frank Peterson in 1990. ...

After Cretu's marriage to Sandra in 1988, he had an idea, following suggestions made by David Fairstein, for a musical "new age dance" project under the name, presented by Fairstein, of "Enigma". Cretu worked with Frank Peterson and David Fairstein to create their ground-breaking first single "Sadeness" which became a surprise hit. MCMXC a.D., the album, which was released in 1990, was hugely successful. It is thought to have sold about 30 million copies worldwide. One of the aims of Enigma was to present music that has never been heard before and is not being produced anywhere, which also forced Cretu to continually move in new musical directions and to stay ahead of imitators. Frank Peterson is a German music producer. ... Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ...

MCMXC a.D. stayed on the charts for 282 weeks on the Billboard charts and dropped off 2 years after their second album, The Cross of Changes was released in 1993. Prior to this, Frank Peterson had some disagreements with Cretu and he left the project in 1991. Cretu changed Enigma's direction from Gregorian chants to tribal chants for the second album, and this led to "Return to Innocence" which became a worldwide hit. MCMXC a. ... It has been suggested that Billboard be merged into this article or section. ... The Cross of Changes is a 1993 album by the musical project Enigma. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... Gregorian chant is the central tradition of Western plainchant, a form of monophonic, unaccompanied sacred song of the Roman Catholic Church. ... http://www. ... Chant is the rhythmic speaking or singing of words or sounds, often primarily on one or two pitches called reciting tones. ... This article is about a song by Enigma. ...

Cretu was approached by Paramount Pictures to write the soundtrack for the movie Sliver and he came up with another 1993 single, Carly's Song, the title of the track based on the character of the leading actress in the movie. Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American motion picture production and distribution company, based in Hollywood, California. ... Promotional movie poster for Sliver Sliver is a 1993 film based on the Ira Levin novel Sliver about the mysterious occurrences in a privately owned New York highrise apartment building. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... Carlys Song is a 1993 song created by the musical project, Enigma. ...

In 1996, Enigma's third album, Le Roi Est Mort, Vive Le Roi! was released. Stylistically, it sounded like a combination of the first and second album, but failed to achieve the same level of success. Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... Le Roi Est Mort, Vive Le Roi! (French for The King is Dead, Long Live the King!) is a 1996 music album created by the music project Enigma. ...

For the fourth album, Cretu steered the project in another direction by using samples of Carl Orff's "Carmina Burana" for The Screen Behind the Mirror. Andru Donalds and Ruth-Ann Boyle first appeared on this album. Although Jens Gad had been working with Cretu in the earlier albums, this was the first time that he had been credited on the album. Carl Orff (July 10, 1895 – March 29, 1982) was a German composer, most famous for Carmina Burana (1937). ... The cover of the score to Carmina Burana showing the Wheel of Fortuna Carmina Burana is a scenic cantata composed by Carl Orff between 1935 and 1936. ... The Screen Behind the Mirror is a 1999 music album created by the musical project Enigma. ... Andru Donalds is a musician and vocalist with a previous solo career, who is now working in collaboration with the Enigma project as lead vocalist. ... Ruth-Ann Boyle Ruth-Ann Boyle (born April 26, 1970 in Sunderland) is an English pop singer who became famous during the 1990s. ... Jens Gad (born August 26, 1966 in Munich, Germany) is a songwriter, producer and guitarist. ...

Deciding that the first chapter for Enigma was closed, Cretu released two sets of compilation albums — Love Sensuality Devotion: The Greatest Hits and Love Sensuality Devotion: The Remix Collection.

By then Cretu was undecided if he should continue with the project, but eventually he came up with Voyageur in 2003. Familiar sounds of the Shakuhachi flute, tribal or Gregorian chants were replaced with more pop-oriented tunes and beats. In March of 2006 a new single called "Hello & Welcome" was released in anticipation of another album. For the music album by Mike Oldfield, see Voyager (album). ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 2003 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... A shakuhachi flute, blowing edge up. ... Gregorian chant is the central tradition of Western plainchant, a form of monophonic, unaccompanied sacred song of the Roman Catholic Church. ...

The latest album is called "A Posteriori". This is the 6th album under the Enigma project. It was released on September 22nd/25th 2006. A Posteriori is the title of the musical project Enigmas sixth studio album, scheduled for release in September 2006. ...

Discography

Solo career

• 1979 – Moon, Light & Flowers
• 1983 – Legionäre
• 1985 – Die Chinesische Mauer
• 1985 – Invisible Man

Also: 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins. ... Michael Cretus first album was released in 1979 and was entitled Ausgewählte Goldstücke as a German release, and Moon, Light & Flowers as an English release. ... Year 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar). ... Michael Cretus second solo album, entitled Legionäre, was released in 1983. ... Year 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar). ... Michael Cretus third solo album was entitled Die Chinesische Mauer, and was released in 1985. ... Year 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar). ...

Collaborations

Michael Cretu worked as a writer, perfomer, or producer on these albums:

• 1985 – Moti Special: Motivation
• 1987 – Mike Oldfield: Islands
• 1987 – Cretu And Thiers: School's Out
• 1988 – Cretu and Thiers: Belle Epoque
• 1992 – Cornelius and Cretu: Cornelius and Cretu
• 1998 – Trance Atlantic Air Waves: The Energy of Sound

Year 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar). ... Michael Cretu being interviewed in 2003 Michael Cretu, also known as Curly M.C. (born May 18, 1957) is a Romanian musician best known as the creator of the Enigma project. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... Michael Gordon Oldfield (born May 15, 1953 in Reading, England) is a multi-instrumentalist musician and composer, working a style that blends progressive rock, folk, ethnic or world music, classical music, electronic music and more recently dance. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... Trance Atlantic Air Waves, also known as TAAW, is a side-project from Enigmas Michael Cretu. ... The Energy of Sound is a 1998 music album created by Trance Atlantic Air Waves, a side-project of Michael Cretu. ...

Enigma

See here for a comprehensive list of albums and singles. Enigma is an electronic musical project started by Michael Cretu, his wife Sandra Cretu, David Fairstein and Frank Peterson in 1990. ... Enigma is an electronic musical project started by Michael Cretu, his wife Sandra Cretu, David Fairstein and Frank Peterson in 1990. ...

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Michael Cretu

Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Wikiquote is a sister project of Wikipedia, using the same MediaWiki software. ...

See also

• Sandra (group)
• Sandra Cretu
• Enigma
• Moti Special

Sandra and Michael Cretu on German TV. Sandra is a famous German music group that consists primarily of Sandra Cretu (vocals) and Michael Cretu (writer and producer). ... Sandra and Michael Cretu on German TV. Sandra Cretu (born Sandra Ann Lauer May 18, 1962, Saarbrücken, Germany), and professionally known as Sandra, is a popular German singer/songwriter, currently living in Ibiza (Spain). ... Enigma is an electronic musical project started by Michael Cretu, his wife Sandra Cretu, David Fairstein and Frank Peterson in 1990. ... Michael Cretu being interviewed in 2003 Michael Cretu, also known as Curly M.C. (born May 18, 1957) is a Romanian musician best known as the creator of the Enigma project. ...

External links

• http://www.enigma.de/ The Official Enigma website.
• http://www.enigmamusic.com - For the Ultimate Enigma Fan Experience!
• http://www.enigmamusic.com/forum - The Enigma Message Board (EMB) for nonstop Enigma related discussions.
• http://www.enigmamusica.com/ The Enigma Spanish website.
• http://www.enigmalyrics.com.ar
• http://www.enigma-fanclub.com
• http://www.enigma-fanclub.com/forum - Italian and International discussions
• http://www.enigma-fanclub.com/discography - International and illustrated discography
• Michael Cretu - unofficial web site with information about Michael Cretu and Enigma
• http://www.enigmacretu.com
• http://sandranet.com/
• http://www.cretuworld.de/
• http://www.the-wheel.de/
• http://www.enigmainfo.com

• Michael Cretu at the Internet Movie Database