Franz benteler and the royal strings orchestra

Benteler was born in Hamburg, Germany, to Franz Xavier Benteler (1881–1967) and Maria (née Maria Franziska Keimeyer; 1888–1976).

Benteler, whose first two marriages ended in divorce, is also survived by three sons, Franz, Stefan and Christopher; and another daughter, Adele.

Visitation is set for 3 to 9 p.m. Neither of his parents played violin, but they started their son in lessons when a traveling music teacher going door-to-door suggested he might have talent. At his request, Franz Benteler and the Royal Strings helped the city welcome world leaders, including Japan’s Hirohito and Egypt’s Anwar Sadat as well as several presidents.

Mr.

Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Following his father, he emigrated to New Jersey at age 5. "He always knew what song to play next, what would get people up onto the dance floor, or what would make them swoon."

Their sets ran the gamut, from light classical numbers by Chopin, Bach and Brahms, to pop, show tunes and bluegrass.

Benteler was born in Hamburg, Germany, but came to this country at the age of 5.

Education

He attended Lane Technical High School"s music program

Career

A favorite of Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley, Benteler was known as the Ambassador of Music for Chicago. For a time he was a violinist with the San Antonio Symphony Orchestra.

He practiced scales daily, and while his most often performed songs were numbers like the “Anniversary Waltz” and “Edelweiss,” he was also adept with the most difficult classical pieces, Linden said.

As part of his show, he’d have the microphones turned off and play a couple of pieces on his 1701 Stradivarius, so the audience could hear the fine instrument “sing for itself,” his daughter said.

“He really enjoyed the interaction with people,” Linden said.

Benteley began taking violin lessons at age 8 and arrived in Chicago at age 9. They also have planned a musical tribute in June at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre in Arlington Heights.

Besides his wife, Benteler is survived by his children Franz, Adele, Stefan, Chris, and Kristine.

Benteler earned a Master"s degree from the Chicago Conservatory of Music.

Although he was a violinist for a time at San Antonio Symphony Orchestra, Benteler primarily was a professional musician in Chicago.

He played at the Blackstone Hotel and the Old Heidelberg Restaurant in Chicago"s Loop. His family first lived in Newark, New Jersey.

With his group the Royal Strings, Mr. Benteler offered a crowd-pleasing blend of waltzes and popular music seven nights a week.

Among his biggest fans was the late Mayor Richard J. Daley, who enlisted Mr. Benteler to play for almost every dignitary who came to town in the late 1960s and ’70s.

“Mayor Daley called him the ambassador of music for Chicago, and he certainly was,” said Carl Linden, a longtime member of the Royal Strings.

Mr.

Benteler settled in Chicago as a professional musician. “His ability to sense what a group of people or an individual would love to hear was amazing.”

He brushed off classically minded critics.

“What’s wrong with a little schmaltz?” he’d say, according to his daughter.

“He used to say there’s nothing wrong with any kind of music, so long as you play like an artist,” his daughter said.

Background

Benteler was born in Hamburg, Germany, to Franz and Maria (née Keimeyer) Benteler. He lived first in New Jersey and came to Chicago when he was 9.

He took up the violin at Lane Tech High School’s storied music program and went on to get a master’s degree in music in violin from the Chicago Conservatory of Music, said his daughter.

He had been married to his co-performer, Jan Norris (stage name) (née Jeannette Olmstead; born 1931), a vocalist, from about 1958 to sometime in the mid-1970s. He was a resident of Arlington Heights.

A working musician nearly all his life, Mr. Benteler maintained a busy performance schedule right until he retired in 2007.