Die Mitternaechters
German/Austrian Music
As the spelling of our name indicates, we are a band that specializes in German and Austrian music. The band incorporates many different instruments into the act, including drums, accordion, cowbells, trumpet, flugelhorn, alpenhorn, guitars, tuba, baritone, as well as singing in English and German. This variety of instruments affords us a substantial amount of versatility that enhances the performance.
When we perform, we wear authentic attire (you know, those cute leather pants). The pride we take in our appearance is carried over to the music - a wide selection of polkas, waltzes and folk songs. Much of our material is chosen to encourage audience participation via dancing, swaying, clapping and sing-alongs, although a "listening" crowd would certainly hear their favorite standards from our repertoire.

The leader of the group is Richard Douglas, who has strong ties to a German/Austrian heritage (an Austrian great-grandfather and a Hungarian grandfather). Richard has always been drawn to music, playing in various bands for over twenty years. With Die Mitternaechters, he sings and plays guitars, Euphonium, Tuba.

Originally from the prairie of North Dakota and growing up in a community where German was spoken in many homes is Jim "The Accordion Maniac" Bossert. Besides playing various types of accordion, Jim sings and is the band’s chief yodeler. He is also the band’s music arranger.

Paul Morton’s primary instruments are horns (alpenhorn, flugelhorn and trumpet), but the audience can also hear him sing and play cowbells. A musician for no less than thirty years, Paul was in the marching band and Jazz Ensemble at the University of Alabama, and has been a freelance professional musician for twenty years. Paul’s antics add a great deal of liveliness to Die Mitternaechters’ stage show!

Ross Young has been playing and studying drums continuously since the age of four (about the time he discovered that they didn’t hit back), and does an excellent job of setting and maintaining the tempo for the band, getting in the occasional extra lick as the opportunity presents itself. Ross also sings and plays guitar.

Chuck King adds the sounds of his trumpet to Paul’s (it’s a neat trick, too). A professional photographer and music instructor in his "other life," Chuck enjoys the sounds of Die Mitternaechters almost as much as the jazz and blues for which he is well known in the Birmingham area. Although he has a degree in Communications, Chuck lets his playing do most of the talking onstage.
Die Mitternaechters have been playing since 1979 and have recorded four albums (the first and second of which are out of print).

Previous engagements include:
FDSK German Club Atlanta, GA 4 years
FDSK German Club Birmingham, AL club functions/Oktoberfest 19 years
University of the South Sewanee, TN 3 years
Oktoberfest Augusta, GA
Oktoberfest Columbus, GA 3 years
Oktoberfest Mobile, AL 2 years
Oktoberfest Nashville, TN
Oktoberfest Redstone Arsenal - Huntsville, AL 7 years
Panopoly Music & Arts Festival Huntsville, AL
Festival of Arts Birmingham, AL 4 years
Oktoberfest Helen, GA 2 years
German Fest Gluckstadt, MS 19 years
Oktoberfest Gulfport, MS 3 years
Wurstfest New Braunsfels, TX 2 years
1996 Olympic Games Legion Field - Birmingham, AL
Mississippi Symphony Jackson, Ms
Little River, SC
Charleston, SC
Clarksville, Tn

For bookings, please contact:

Richard Douglas
4516 Cayce Lane
Birmingham, AL 35244

Email: rdouglas4516@charter.net or DieMittGer@yahoo.com