Friedemann was born in 1951 in Freiburg, Germany, a picturesque town in the foothills of the Black Forest. Though he had taken several years of formal music training on the cello as a youth, his view of music changed when he discovered an old guitar in his parents home. Amazed at its rich, resonant sound, he beacame inspired to pursue an entirely new direction in music.

By the age of 15, he was the toast of regional music festivals, earning numerous awards for his distinctive style and expressive flair. From 1970 to 1980 Friedemann lived in London, England, where he continued to expand his artistic horizons, studying art and photography, and producing a highly acclaimed children's music series, Tinderbox.

After his return to Germany, Friedemann soon emerged as a popular composer, arranger and producer. By the mid-80ies he had successfully established the music publishing company Vollton Musikverlag and its record label Biber Records which have become the home of several internationally acclaimed bands and musicians.