The brothers Bernd and Karl-Heinz Ulrich, also known as “Die Amigos”
Two brothers from a village in Hesse, half a century of music, and more No. 1 albums than the Beatles: The story of the Amigos sounds like a screenplay that no TV network would have picked up. Bernd and Karl-Heinz Ulrich wrote it anyway. On September 11, 2027, the duo will stop in Sursee as part of their tour. Here are seven facts about Europe’s most successful Schlager duo.
In 1970, the brothers formed their first band in Villingen, a district of Hungen in Central Hesse. Their father cleared out the garage so his sons could rehearse. It was there that they developed the sound that would later sell millions of records.
For decades, the Ulrichs couldn’t make a living from music. Bernd worked at a brewery, and Karl-Heinz worked as a long-haul truck driver. They played music on the weekends: at folk festivals, in village halls, and at retirement homes. For 36 years.
In September 2006, the Amigos competed on the MDR show “Achims Hitparade” and won with “Dann kam ein Engel.” The audience first voted them “King of Musicians,” then “Emperor of Musicians.” Bernd was 55, Karl-Heinz 57—an age when others are planning their farewell tours.
In July 2020, the album “Tausend Träume” climbed to No. 1 on the German charts. It was the Amigos’ twelfth No. 1 album. With this, they surpassed the Beatles and Die Toten Hosen, who each had eleven.
The Amigos have collected more than 100 gold and platinum awards. This includes Switzerland: “Die grossen Erfolge,” “Der helle Wahnsinn,” and “Ein Tag im Paradies” all went gold here. In 2011, they added an Echo Award in the Folk Music category, as well as three “Kronen der Volksmusik” awards (2009, 2010, and 2012). For a duo that the industry had ignored for decades, this was a belated recognition.
Karl-Heinz Ulrich was born in 1948, Bernd in 1950. So at ages 77 and 75, the two are still performing regularly on stage. But after more than 55 years, the brothers have announced the end of their career. An album for 2026 has already been produced, and according to their record contract, the final one will follow in 2027. After that, it’s over. So anyone who still wants to see the Amigos live doesn’t have forever to do so.
Daniela Alfinito, Bernd Ulrich’s daughter, has been performing on stage with the band since 2000. She stepped in when the band’s keyboardist at the time was sidelined after suffering a stroke. She now has her own No. 1 albums, including “Liebes-Tattoo,” which also climbed to the top of the charts in Switzerland in 2020. Nevertheless, she continues to work as a geriatric caregiver to this day. And the succession is set: When the Amigos retire, they’ll pass the torch to Daniela. On the current tour, she’s already performing alongside her father and uncle.
Switzerland knows the Amigos well. They played at the Heitere Open Air in Zofingen as recently as August 6, 2026, and have been guests in Sursee on multiple occasions. On Saturday, September 11, 2027, they’ll return to our country one last time as part of their farewell tour.