Although his first appearance in the hit parade was in 1962 ("Lauter Schöne Worte"), he had his first big hit in 1969. "Mendocino", the German adaptation of a song by the Sir Douglas Quintet, was the biggest selling single that year in (Germany). The record was released in September 1969, reached number three for five weeks, selling over a million copies. Record company Ariola presented him with a gold record in October 1970.