Editing Arabesque (group) (section)

=== 1975–1978: Formation and early years ===

In 1975, [[schlager music]] singer [[Mary Ann Nagel]] proposed a girl group to producer [[Wolfgang Mewes]], who accepted. Two additional members were recruited through a [[singing competition]].<ref>[http://www.shakira.de/app/download/14437797/ARABESQUE+feat+Karen+Ann+Tepperis+-+Infomappe+Young+Star+Records.pdf ARABESQUE feat Karen Ann Tepperis - Infomappe Young Star Records] shakira.de</ref> A Brit (Karen Ann Tepperis), a German-Mexican ([[Michaela Rose]]), and a German ([[Mary Ann Nagel]]) comprised the initial group.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://discostars80.com/arabesque/mr_interview2018_e.html|title=Michaela Rose, the mysterious Lady from Arabesque (exclusive interview for www.Discostras80.com 2018)|website=discostars80.com}}</ref><ref>[http://www.shakira.de/app/download/14437806/ARABESQUE+feat+Karen+Ann+Tepperis+Presse+Artikel.pdf ARABESQUE feat Karen Ann Tepperis Presse Artikel] shakira.de</ref>

After the first album, the band lineup changed by keeping only the original member Michaela Rose, while replacing the two other girls, Karen Ann Tepperis and [[Mary Ann Nagel]], with new members [[Jasmin Vetter]] and [[Heike Rimbeau]], respectively. Nagel was replaced due to family commitments and becoming tired of the long daily commute from [[Karlsruhe]] to [[Frankfurt am Main]], where the group was based. Tepperis was replaced shortly after the release of [[Friday Night (Arabesque song)|Friday Night]] in 1978, due to the fact that she was pregnant and could not go on tour. The surprising overnight success of [[Hello Mr. Monkey]] in Japan prompted the producers to schedule an immediate tour to [[Japan]]. The duration of [[Heike Rimbeau]] in the group was also short-lived; due to her pregnancy in 1978, she was briefly substituted with [[Elke Brückheimer]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.mindal.mybb.ru/viewtopic.php?id=121|title=ДИСКОТЕКА 80-х гг.|website=en.mindal.mybb.ru}}</ref> This West German country singer appeared only in a few live performances during the year 1979. However, shortly afterward, she too was replaced by [[Sandra (singer)|Sandra Lauer]]. Lauer had previously attended the Young Star Music contest in 1975, where she achieved a record deal and released the song "[[Andy mein Freund]]" (''My Friend, Andy'').<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vyhodne-pojisteni.com/|title=Výhodné pojištění|website=Výhodné pojištění}}</ref> In 1979, at age 17, Lauer was invited to become the lead singer of Arabesque.