Horst Jankowski (January 30, 1936 – June 29, 1998) was a German pianist, composer, and bandleader known for his light jazz and easy-listening music. Born in Berlin, he studied at the Berlin Music Conservatory and initially gained recognition as the pianist for Caterina Valente and her touring band.
Jankowski achieved international fame in 1965 with his instrumental hit A Walk in the Black Forest, which topped the charts in the UK and reached the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S.
The song became his signature piece and an easy-listening classic. Throughout his career, he recorded numerous albums blending jazz, classical, and pop influences, often featuring lush orchestration and catchy melodies.
He also worked as a composer and arranger for film and television, contributing to German media productions. His refined, melodic piano style kept him popular among easy-listening audiences. Jankowski continued performing and recording until his passing in 1998, leaving behind a rich musical legacy.
78 recordings by Horst Jankowski you can hear on Instrumentals Forever:
A Lover’s Concerto • A Man And A Woman • A Walk In Bavaria • A Walk In The Black Forest • All At Once • Alpine Highway • And We Got Love (Ein Hoch der Liebe) • Any Problem Now • Ascot Gavotte • Berlin Stroll • Blowin’ In The Wind • Bonnie & Clyde • By The Time I Get To Phoenix • Canadian Sunset • Can’t Buy Me Love • Cast Your Fate To The Wind • Charming Vienna • Chitty Chitty Bang Bang • Cruising Down The Rhine • Days Of Wine And Roses • Delilah • Ebony And Ivory (feat. John Marshall, Posaune) • Embassy Bossa Nova • Fly Me To The Moon • Games Of Memories • Get Me To The Church On Time • Happy Frankfurt • Heide • Hello Dolly • Hey Jude • I Am What I Am • I Could Have Danced All Night • I Just Called To Say I Love You • I Will Wait For You • If I Had A Hammer • I’ve Grown Acustomed To Her Face • Just The Way You Are • Just You Wait • Lara’s Theme • Lazy • MacArthur Park • Memphis Tennessee • Moon River • Music To Watch Girls By • My Gertie • My Old Fashion Love-Boogie • Now And Forever • On The Street Where You Live • Our Beach Affair • Overjoyed • Paint It Black • Play A Simple Melody • Saving All My Love For You • See You Later, Alligator • Show Me • Sing, Sing A Song • Slick • Song Sung Blue • Strangers In The Night • Sunny • Sunrise Serenade • Tausendmal Du • Tell Her About It • Tha’ts What Friends Are For • The Guy’s In Love With Your Music • The Lady In Red (feat. Harry Samp, Flügelhorn) • The Rain In Spain • Third Man Theme • This Guy’s In Love With You • Tiflis Melody • Turkish March • Un homme et une femme • Violin Concerto In D Major • When You Smile • With A Little Bit Of Luck • Without You • Wouldn’t It Be Loverly • Yesterday •
