In Memory of

Gunther

Joachim

Knaup

Obituary for Gunther Joachim Knaup

Gunther Joachim Knaup died peacefully at his home in Nashville, TN on March 25, 2017.
Gunther was born on June 9, 1949 in Munich, Germany. He began studying piano in his early childhood years and was a member of the “Tolzer Knabenchor”, a world-famous boys choir. After high school, he continued his studies in music education and piano at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria and later at the Richard Strauss Conservatory in Munich, Germany, where he earned a Master’s Degree in Performance and Educational Piano. In 1979, Gunther moved to New York City to work with CBS, and met his wife of 32 years, Sylvia Brand, a talented pop singer. Gunther and Sylvia performed and recorded together in New York City and later in Nashville, Tennessee, where Gunther also was a piano instructor and played exquisite classical concerts at various venues.
Gunther is predeceased by his parents, Dr. Rudolf and Elisabeth Knaup, and is survived by his sister, Dr. Renate Gloeckle of Munich, Germany, his sisters-in-law Miriam Kline, Beth Brand, Caroline Mateja, Liza Urso, Susan Pence, and a host of nieces and nephews.
A service celebrating Gunther’s life will be held at East Hill Cemetery in Salem, VA. at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 3.