Kraus, who was born Peter Siegfried Krausenecker in Munich, Germany, became well-known in the 1950s, particularly for his roles in musical comedies opposite Cornelia Froboess. Kraus was promoted as an Elvis Presley knockoff when the German music industry realized that rock 'n' roll was a major seller even with German lyrics. His lanky build and carefree demeanor quickly made him, along with his colleague Ted Herold, one of Germany's most well-known singers and adolescent idols. He produced 36 hits in the first four years following his debut, selling more than twelve million records.