Music Producer Frank Farian, Founder of Boney M and Milli Vanilli, Dies at 82

Farian, Who Sold an Estimated 800 Million Records Worldwide, Passed Away at His Home in Miami

Frank Farian, the German music producer and founder of the disco band Boney M and pop duo Milli Vanilli, has died at the age of 82 at his home in Miami, Florida.
Farian, born Franz Reuther, started his music career as a solo artist and later achieved international success as a producer, selling an estimated 800 million records worldwide.
Boney M, formed in 1976, had a string of hit singles including 'Daddy Cool', 'Rasputin' and 'Mary's Boy Child'.
Farian also founded Milli Vanilli, who were involved in a major lip-syncing scandal in the late 1980s, leading to their Grammy Award for best new artist being revoked.
In 2022, Farian revealed he had undergone heart valve replacement surgery and had a pig heart valve inserted, which he said saved his life.