voc, b, *1946 GB, Germany
Singer / Musician / Composer
A.k.a. Joachim Leis Bendorff Benny Bendorff
Joachim "Benny" Bendorff (born August 1946) is a German bass guitarist, vocalist, trumpeter and composer, best known for his long tenure as bassist for the James Last Orchestra.Born and raised in Hamburg, his mother Lya Bendorff was an opera singer, and his father Siegfried Bendorff was a ballet dancer, teacher and guitarist. He, his parents and his sister Monika Bendorff performed as a family in a cabaret act. Young Benny also became an accomplished trumpet player, performing as a soloist with the NDR (Norddeutscher Rundfunk, or North German Radio) orchestra at the age of 12. In his teens, Benny became more interested in the burgeoning rock scene, especially the English musicians who performed in Hamburg's Reeperbahn district. He took up the guitar and played in an instrumental band influ