Klaus, Nomi, 1944-1983

Variant names

Hide Profile

Klaus Nomi, born Klaus Sperber in Immenstadt, Bavaria, Germany in 1944, was a countertenor and visionary performance artist. He moved to New York City in 1972, affilating with the arts scene in the East Village and supporting himself as a pastry chef and night club singer. His groundbreaking performance of an aria in a space suit at Irving Plaza's New Wave Vaudeville series in 1978 was followed in 1979 by his singing backup, with fellow artist and friend Joey Arias, for David Bowie on Saturday Night Live. Nomi died in 1983 as a result of complications from AIDS, one of the earliest known figures from the arts community to die from the disease; Joey Arias served as executor of his will.
Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Klaus Nomi papers, circa 1950-1983 Houghton Library
referencedIn Joey Arias papers Houghton Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Arias, Joey, 1955- person
acquaintanceOf Bowie, David person
Place Name Admin Code Country
New York City NY US
Immenstadt im Allgäu (Germany)
Subject
Occupation
Singers
Actors
Activity

Person

Death 1983-08-06

Birth 1944-01-24

Male

Germans

German,

English

Related Descriptions
Information

Permalink: http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6165685

Ark ID: w6165685

SNAC ID: 84167494