Erwin Hartung was born on March 4, 1901, in Bromberg, then part of the German Empire, now Bydgoszcz, Poland. He passed away on January 25, 1986, in Düsseldorf, Germany. Hartung was a prominent German actor and singer, particularly renowned as a refrain singer on German records during the 1930s. His career began in theater, with early roles in Bayreuth, Amberg, and Konstanz, where he performed in classical and operetta roles. He moved to Berlin in 1923, where he was discovered by Viktor Holländer and began performing in operettas and cabarets.

In 1929, orchestra leader Paul Godwin discovered Hartung for the recording industry, leading to a prolific career where he recorded thousands of songs, often under pseudonyms like Ernst Harten or Hans Horsten. Hartung was not exclusive to any single record company, allowing him to work broadly across the industry. His film career began in 1932 with a leading role in "Husarenliebe," and he continued to appear in numerous films throughout the 1930s.

Hartung was married to operetta singer Mara Jakisch from 1939 to 1946, with whom he had a son, Götz Hartung. He remarried in 1955 to Adelheid, with whom he spent his later years in Düsseldorf. Besides his recording career, Hartung remained active in theater and film, including post-war television appearances. Notable TV roles included performances in "In der Strafkolonie" and "Onkel Silas." He continued to record music with the AMIGA label in East Berlin after World War II. Hartung's legacy includes a vast discography and contributions to both German music and film.