Coconut Records

Coconut Records is a German independent record label founded in 1981 by music producer and composer Tony Hendrik and his wife and creative partner Karin Hartmann. The label developed within the European commercial music scene and became associated with a broad range of melodic and dance-oriented styles, including schlager, Eurodance, electronica, Hi-NRG, dance-pop and R&B. Rather than operating around a single narrowly defined genre, Coconut Records functioned as a producer-led label whose roster and releases reflected the changing preferences of European popular music audiences. The label's history is closely connected with Hendrik and Hartmann's production and songwriting work. Hendrik, who also worked under the pseudonym Dee Dee Halligan, had earlier performed with bands and worked as a producer for the German branch of Vogue. He and Hartmann, who used the professional name Junior Torello, became central figures in the creation and production of several commercially successful acts. Their work with Bad Boys Blue helped establish Coconut Records' profile in the European dance-pop market. The group was assembled in 1984 with Hendrik and Hartmann involved in its formation and production, and achieved success with songs including “You're a Woman,” “Pretty Young Girl,” “Lady in Black” and “Come Back and Stay.” Coconut Records is also associated with the international success of Haddaway. Hendrik and Hartmann wrote and produced “What Is Love,” released in 1993. The song became a major European hit and reached number one in several national markets, while also placing at number 11 on the United States Billboard Hot 100. Its enduring presence in dance music and popular culture made it the label's most internationally recognizable recording association. The label's broader catalogue has included artists and projects such as Londonbeat, Andreas Martin, Wolfgang Petry, Haddaway, Bad Boys Blue, Soultans, Chyp-Notic and A La Carte. These associations span German-language popular music, international dance-pop, Eurodance and related forms. Coconut Records' identity is therefore best understood as a commercially oriented European music label and production platform, with particular strength in artist-led pop and dance recordings. Publicly available reference material provides limited detail about the label's corporate structure, current executive team, catalogue administration and present-day release schedule. Its historical significance rests primarily on the recordings and production partnerships connected to Hendrik and Hartmann, especially the Bad Boys Blue and Haddaway catalogues. The label should not be confused with other entities using the name Coconut Records, including the American musician and solo project associated with Jason Schwartzman.

Coconut Records was established in Germany in 1981 by Tony Hendrik and Karin Hartmann. The label emerged from the creative and production partnership between the two musicians, who worked under professional pseudonyms as well as their own names. Hendrik had begun his career as a performer, including work with the beat group Hendrik & The Luniks and the Tony Hendrik Five, before moving into production through the German branch of Vogue. Hartmann became his long-term songwriting and production collaborator. The label's activities covered several commercially connected areas of European popular music. Its catalogue has been described as including dance, schlager, Eurodance, electronica, Hi-NRG, dance-pop and R&B. This range reflects the label's producer-oriented model: releases were developed around performers, songs and production teams rather than a single fixed musical identity. A key turning point came in the mid-1980s with Bad Boys Blue. In 1984, Hendrik and Hartmann helped put the group together and produced its recordings. Bad Boys Blue became successful across Europe, with releases such as “You're a Woman,” “Pretty Young Girl,” “Lady in Black” and “Come Back and Stay.” The group's success gave Coconut Records a substantial presence in the European dance-pop market and established the label's association with polished, radio-oriented production. The label's most widely recognized international recording association followed with Haddaway. Hendrik, using the name Dee Dee Halligan, and Hartmann, using the name Junior Torello, wrote and produced “What Is Love,” released in 1993. The song reached number one in multiple countries and reached number 11 on the United States Billboard Hot 100. Its success connected the German label and its production team with the global Eurodance movement of the early 1990s. Coconut Records has also been associated with Londonbeat, Andreas Martin, Wolfgang Petry, Soultans, Chyp-Notic and A La Carte, in addition to Bad Boys Blue and Haddaway. These artists illustrate the label's mix of German-language popular music, international pop and dance-oriented repertoire. Available reference material does not establish a complete chronology of the label's corporate changes, distribution agreements, ownership transfers or recent release activity. It does, however, document Coconut Records as a German label founded and operated by Hendrik and Hartmann, with an important catalogue legacy in European pop and dance music. The brand's historical profile is primarily defined by its producer-led relationship with successful acts and by recordings that crossed national and language markets.

• 1993

  “What Is Love” becomes an international hit

  [2]Tony Hendriken.wikipedia.org

  Haddaway's “What Is Love,” written and produced by Hendrik and Hartmann, reaches number one in several countries and enters the United States Billboard Hot 100.

• 1984

  Bad Boys Blue is assembled

  [2]Tony Hendriken.wikipedia.org

  Hendrik and Hartmann put together Bad Boys Blue and produce the group's recordings, beginning a major association between the act and Coconut Records.

• 1981

  Coconut Records is founded

  [1]Coconut Records (record label)en.wikipedia.org

  Tony Hendrik and Karin Hartmann establish Coconut Records in Germany.

An independent German label and production-led music brand focused on melodic European pop, dance, Eurodance, schlager and related commercial genres.

• Dance-pop and Eurodance recordings · 1984

  Bad Boys Blue catalogue

  Coconut Records is strongly associated with Bad Boys Blue, a group assembled and produced by Tony Hendrik and Karin Hartmann from 1984. The group's polished European dance-pop repertoire includes “You're a Woman,” “Pretty Young Girl,” “Lady in Black” and “Come Back and Stay.” These releases helped establish the label's visibility in the European commercial dance market.

• Eurodance and dance-pop recordings · 1993

  Haddaway recordings

  Haddaway's recordings form one of Coconut Records' best-known international associations. Hendrik and Hartmann wrote and produced “What Is Love,” released in 1993. The song's success across Europe and its appearance on the United States Billboard Hot 100 made it a defining example of the label's international dance-pop reach.

• Schlager and German pop

  German popular-music releases

  The label's broader artist associations include Andreas Martin and Wolfgang Petry, indicating a substantial connection with German-language popular music alongside its international dance repertoire. Public reference material does not provide a complete release-by-release catalogue, so individual formats and dates are not fully documented here.

• Dance, Hi-NRG, electronica and R&B

  International dance and pop catalogue

  Coconut Records has released or been associated with music spanning dance, Hi-NRG, electronica, dance-pop and R&B. Named associated acts include Londonbeat, Soultans, Chyp-Notic and A La Carte, reflecting the label's broad European commercial-pop orientation.

• 1993

  Haddaway releases “What Is Love”[2]Tony Hendriken.wikipedia.org

  Product launch · Product generation

  Tony Hendrik and Karin Hartmann wrote and produced Haddaway's “What Is Love,” which became a major international dance hit.

• 1984

  Bad Boys Blue becomes a major Coconut Records-associated act[2]Tony Hendriken.wikipedia.org

  Product launch · Other

  Hendrik and Hartmann assembled and produced Bad Boys Blue, whose European dance-pop releases became closely associated with the label.

• 1981

  Coconut Records founded in Germany[1]Coconut Records (record label)en.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Tony Hendrik and Karin Hartmann established Coconut Records as a German record label and production vehicle.

1. 1Coconut Records (record label)en.wikipedia.org
2. 2Tony Hendriken.wikipedia.org