Roger Cicero: Germany's jazz talent

Roger Cicero had become renowned for his live gigs featuring big bands and guest stars, but was a reclusive character in his private life. Cicero would take several months to produce new albums, seeking inspiration in isolation. His last major tour, "The Roger Cicero Jazz Experience," took place in 2013; tours for 2014 and 2015 were cancelled with the onset of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Hardly any other German performer wore as many hats as Roger Cicero - both literally and figuratively. In addition to his accomplishments as a stage performer, Cicero had worked on a number of outstanding collaborations as a jazz pianist and made a foray into acting in the 2009 biopic "Hilde," based on the life of German superstar Hildegard Knef.

Roger Cicero's albums broke records at a time when jazz had just started celebrating a comeback internationally, with performers like Robbie Williams, Jamie Cullum and Michael Bublé adding a contemporary touch to the classic style of swing. Cicero was also one of those vanguards, representing Germany's take on finger-snapping tunes and brassy renditions of American songbook standards.

Cicero garnered an Echo award - the highest prize in the German music industry - in 2007. That same year he failed to gain high scores for Germany at the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) held in Helsinki, but put Germany firmly back on the map as a strong contender in Europe's popular annual music event.

Roger Cicero competed at the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) in 2007 with his hit track "Frauen regier'n die Welt" ("Women Rule the World"). The song provided a certain contrast to the title of his 2006 debut album, "Männersachen" ("Man Business"). One of the few German celebrities to enthuse people from both genders, Cicero collaborated with many artists, like German singer Yvonne Catterfield.

Roger Cicero also proved his talent as a lyricist and songwriter, with his poetic and insightful lyrics often reminiscent of a surprisingly old-fashioned style. He was celebrated as a charismatic on-stage entertainer as much as he was considered a thoughful wordsmith, often adding humor to his verses. No matter in what capacity he got to live out his creative talent, Cicero rarely stood still.

Roger Cicero had many plans for 2016; his latest album "The Roger Cicero Jazz Experience" was nominated for an Echo Award, and there were tours and public engagements throughout the year. However, this non-stop schedule caused a number of health issues, starting with chronic fatigue sydrome, which led to an acute case of myocarditis. Cicero died, aged 45, following a stroke on March 24, 2015.