Born in Teisendorf, Bavaria, on August 5, 1982, Regner studied classical and jazz piano as a child but eventually gravitated to rock & roll, as a teen fronting the heavy metal band Black Jack's. Stints in groups including Plutone, Ge'läck, and Melock followed while he concurrently studied communications at the Universität Salzburg. After graduating in the summer of 2005, Regner auditioned for Deutschland Sucht den SuperStar, and was named one of just 18 finalists among 14,000 applicants. On the series' March 19, 2006 finale, he edged out Mike Leon Grosch to win first prize, claiming roughly 55-percent of the audience vote. Regner issued his chart-topping debut LP, Straight, a month later, notching his first number one single with "I Still Burn," but the follow-up, "She's So," barely cracked the German Top 40. ~ Jason Ankeny