Die Zillertaler Schürzenjäger, one of the most popular German-language volksmusik bands of the late 20th century, began their recording career in 1977 in Zillertal, an eastern Alpine valley region in the Austrian state of Tirol. Led by Peter Steinlechner, they played straightforward volksmusik, incorporating accordion, yodeling, and key elements of traditional Austrian folk songs, but after adding various bandmembers they began drawing from influences including rock, pop, schlager, country, and blues -- and in 1996 they even dropped the regionally specific "Zillertaler" from their name, billing themselves simply as Die Schürzenjäger. These changes brought them greater international appeal, especially in Germany, where they regularly charted in the Top 100 with each album release; Träume Sind Stärker (1996) and Homo Erectus (1997) even broke the Top Ten. ~ Jason Birchmeier