Michael Thilo is dead: singer of the “Benjamin Blümchen” theme song died at the age of 81

Michael Thilo is dead. The singer of the original title song of the radio play series “Benjamin Blümchen” died on March 3, 2026 at the age of 81. His son Enrico confirmed this to the “Münchner Merkur” this Thursday. The Facebook fan page “Kofferradio” had previously reported on the death.

For millions of people, Thilo's voice is associated with a childhood memory. The theme song of the “Benjamin Blümchen” radio plays that he sang shaped the original version of the series. When the rights to the radio play series were sold in the 1980s, Thilo's version was replaced by another recording. The original version is still considered influential among fans today.

In his family, however, the song never had the meaning that it later gained for many listeners, Thilo's son told the “Münchner Merkur”. "Benjamin Blümchen was more of a marginal figure. That was always bigger for outsiders than for us." He experiences again and again how great the recognition effect is: “When I tell them that that is my father, they are astonished.”

Career in East and West

Michael Tilo Amft, as Thilo's real name was, was born on September 22, 1944 in Dresden. His first radio recording was released in 1969 on the GDR label Amiga. He celebrated his first successes there with the song “Barbara”.