Biography

One of the most popular volksmusik groups of the German-speaking world, Ursprung Buam hails from Zillertal, Tyrol, and ascended to mainstream popularity in 2001 after winning an Amadeus Award in the category of Gruppe Volkstümlicher Schlager. Founded in 1993, Ursprung Buam is a trio comprised of brothers Martin Brugger (fiddle; born December 11, 1976) and Andreas Brugger (accordion; December 29, 1978), along with cousin Mannfred Höllwarth (bass, harp; April 5, 1962). In accordance with the trio's alpine origins, they sing in an Austro-Bavarian dialect and embody the age-old cultural traditions of the region. Ursprung Buam made their recording debut in the late '90s with the album Echt Zillertalerisch. Incredibly scarce, the album was released -- presumably re-released -- by Tyrolis in 1999 shortly after the trio had signed to the MCP Sound & Media label and begun to find success on the ORF hit parade. A Riesenstimmung aus den Zillertall (1998) marked Ursprung Buam's MCP debut. The trio's second MCP album, Aufgeigt Weacht (1999), was their first to chart, peaking at number 24 on the Austrian albums chart. Subsequent albums -- I Bin der Teufelsgeigerbua (2000), A Urige Weihnacht (2000), and Damenwahl Hamma Heit' (2001) -- were similarly popular, charting respectively at number 18, 24, and 16. In the wake of Ursprung Buam's 2001 Amadeus Award in the category of Gruppe Volkstümlicher Schlager, they gained additional recognition and saw their popularity increase significantly. Their next album, Don Camillo und Peppone (2002), broke into the Top Five of the Austrian albums chart while Romeo & Julia (2003) came close, reaching number six. At this point, Ursprung Buam switched labels, moving from MCP to Universal Music Group for S'Original vom Zillertal (2004). Meanwhile, with Die Schönsten Jodler in 2003, MCP began releasing a series of best-of compilations, including Ursprung Buam Gold (2004), Das Beste der Ursprung Buam (2005), the DVD Die Großen Erfolge (2005), Hit-Mix (2006), and the three-CD box set Sonderedition (2007). After moving to Universal Music Group, Ursprung Buam continued to release new albums annually, many of them charting Top Five in Austria and Top 100 in Germany -- Der Geigenspieler aus dem Zillertal (2004), Ein Casanova Kann Nicht Aufgeig'n (2005), Zwei Rehbraune Augen (2006), A Fesches Boarisches Madl (2007), Live im Zillertal (2007), Grande Canale (2008), et al. -- along with occasional compilations such as Star Edition (2007). Plus, there was a series of DVDs including Ein Casanova Kann Nicht Aufgeige'n (2005) and Live im Zillertal (2007). ~ Jason Birchmeier, Rovi