Best known as the vocalist for the successful '80s-era dance-pop duo Modern Talking, Thomas Anders was born Bernd Weidung on March 1, 1963 in Munstermaifeld, Germany; he began singing at age seven, appearing in local village celebrations as well as with his church choir. He met producer/composer Dieter Bohlen in 1983, and together they formed Modern Talking, scoring a series of hits before internal tensions split the duo in 1987. Anders issued his solo debut, Different, two years later, scoring the hits "Soldier," "One Thing," and "Love of My Own." A series of records including the Spanish-language Barcos de Cristal followed before he reunited with Bohlen in 1994 to re-form Modern Talking, returning in 1998 with the album Back for Good. ~ Jason Ankeny