- Besides his scores for movies he wrote more than 1000 melodies.
- As an adult he first worked as a conductor before he became an assistant for Theo Mackeben.
- From 1944 he composed his first film music for the UFA and later for Tobis.
- Willy Mattes was among others married with the actress Margit Symo, his daughter Eva Mattes became also a well-known actress.
- When he returned to Germany he became there too a very busy film composer, especially in the 50's.
- After the war he went to Sweden to the Sveriges radio where he took over the radio orchestra. It followed engagements at the Radio Genève and a collaboration with Ernest Anserment. Abroad came also his first film compositions after the war into being, among others for Ingmar Bergman.
- When he wrote the "Swedish Rhapsody"for the Lana-Turner movie "Madame X"(1950) under the pen name Charles Wilman he also became famous international.
- Willy Mattes was all the time active as a conductor besides his work as a composer.
- He was married from 1958 till his death with former Miss Europe 1954 Christel Schaack.
- The film composer Willy Mattes already attracted attention at the age of 10 years with his play at the piano and on the violin.
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