The Kastelruther Spatzen (German for Kastelruth sparrows) are a musical group from South Tyrol, northern Italy, who have won many honours and awards for their schlager in folk music style.

In 1983, with this line-up, they released their first single, Das Mädchen mit den erloschenen Augen, which was awarded a golden disc.

He started a solo career in 1996, and has won the Grand Prix der Volksmusik once and the Goldene Stimmgabel twice.

He sings with the group Die Bergkameraden and won the German national round of the Grand Prix der Volksmusik with them in 2009 to reach the final.

One of the original members of the Kastelruther Spatzen, Ferdinand Rier left the group in 1980 to start a family.

He was born on 14 April 1960, is married to Isabella and has four children, with two of whom he has recorded songs - Marion in 1994 and Andreas in 2004.

Die authentische Autobiographie des Kastelruther Spatzen Chefs, BLV Buchverlag, München 2006, ISBN 3-8354-0258-7.

Before Karl Schieder brought him into the Kastelruther Spatzen in 1980, where he plays keyboard and accordion, and is also a composer and lyricist, he performed with the Seiser Buam.