Wikipedia:
Friedrich Hermann Dietrich Schröder (* August 6, 1910 in Näfels, Switzerland; † September 25, 1972 in Berlin) was a German composer.
The son of an engineer from Westphalia and a Swabian mother, he grew up in Stuttgart from 1914. After graduating wtih a general qualification for university entrance (Abitur) in 1927, Schröder studied music history and church music in Münster. In 1929, he relocated to Berlin and continued his studies at the ''Hochschule für Musik'' as a student of Paul Höffer. At this time, he lost his father's legacy due to the Great Depression. He abandoned his plan to become a church musician and made his way as a copyist. He met Peter Kreuder and worked as his arranger on numerous film scores. From 1934 to 1937, he worked alongside Werner Schmidt-Boelcke as Kapellmeister at the Metropol Theater (Berlin-Mitte). He was also a student of the Berlin opera composer Paul Lincke and conducted his works there.
In 1936, Schröder composed his first own pop melodies, and from 1937 his first own film scores. At the same time he worked for the orchestra ''Die Goldene Sieben'' (The Golden Seven), among others. After that he was again active in film, and also wrote several operettas, an opera and concert pieces. In 1944, Schröder was on the ''Gottbegnadeten List'' (Important Artist Exempt List)of the Reich Ministry for Popular Enlightenment and Propaganda (Goebbels' Ministry).
In 1948, he was appointed 1st director of the music department of the just founded RIAS (Radio in Allied Sector) in Berlin. In 1955, Schröder was the first to receive the ''Paul Lincke Ring''. In 1957, he became musical director of the ''Bertelsmann Schallplattenring''. He was involved in the founding of the record company ''Ariola'' and achieved the return of Zarah Leander to Germany. With her, he produced the first post war titles for ''Bertelsmann''. For years, Schröder concentrated on his work as a music producer.
In 1964, he was elected president of the Association for the Promotion of German Dance and Light Music. He was a co-initiator of a young talent seminar for light music at the ''Hochschule für Musik'' in Berlin.
Schröder had been married to Lieselotte Wiedenhaupt since 1931 and through her was the father of three children. From another relationship came another daughter. He was buried in the Wilmersdorf cemetery in Berlin. The gravesite is located in Dept. C3-3-16/17.
Note: Translated from the German version of Wikipedia into English.
