Karl W. Hausman, VI

Karl William Hausman VI, 84, of Sinking Spring PA, passed away on Saturday, February 7 2026.

Karl was born on Wednesday December 17, 1941 to Iola and Karl William Hausman in Fishtown, Philadelphia PA. 

In 1973, Karl met Carolyn, they got married in 1975, went on to have 2 children and 4 grandkids and were happily married for 50 years. 

Karl is survived by his wife Carolyn Hausman, their oldest child Roberta-Lee Moran, her husband Ian Moran and two grandchildren Ewan and Leo Moran; their youngest daughter Karli Hausman, her wife Christina Hausman (Montez) and two grandchildren Kendalyn and Cal Hausman. 

Karl’s love for piano began at age 3, he started lessons at 7 and he sang in concerts with the Philadelphia Boys Choir and The Philadelphia Orchestra. 

Around the age of 14 Karl began playing bars in his Irish neighborhood in Fishtown. By 16 he became a studio pianist for Rock & Roll singers and Doo-Whop groups. At 17, he won 1st prize in a talent contest on Steel Pier in Atlantic City. 

Karl’s first tour was when he joined “Roscoe & His Green Men” from ft. Wayne, Indiana. He appeared at “The Wagon Wheel” on W 45th St. in Manhattan, “The Palace” in Boston, “Rigger’s” in Chicago, “The Edison Hotel” in Toronto and “The Chatter Box” in Seaside Heights, NJ. 

Then Karl had a big break by opening for the Johnny Cash show on tour throughout Canada. 

He went on to help write two international hits for the 4-piece band the Kit Kats. Let’s Get Lost on a Country Road (1967) and “Won’t Find Better Than Me” (1970, The New Hope). 

Their version of the song “Nut Rocker” was used in the 1984 and 1996 Olympics. 

Once called “the Ultimate Bar Band”, the Kit Kats owned 40% of the Riptide Night Club in Wildwood, NJ from 1967-1970 performing 7 nights and 2 matinees weekly. The Kit Kats appeared with Roy Clark, Doc Severenson, Neil Diamond, Lou Rawls, Gene Pitney, Janis Ian, Donald O’Conner, Don Rickles, Four Seasons, 4 Tops and “The Band”. 

Once Karl broke away from the band he started off by playing in a fine-dining restaurant. From Philadelphia Main-Line to Frenchman’s Reef in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. 

Karl was deemed “The Greatest Rock and Roll Pianist on the East Coast” by the Philadelphia Inquirer. In the early 1980s he and his wife Carolyn owned an old-fashioned ice cream parlor and was featured 4 times on the TV show PM Magazine showing his Ragtime themed playing style. 

Karl was offered the job of a lifetime as the Main Street Pianist in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World where he played for 90,000 guests daily, 5 days a week. 

The Rock Band the Kit Kats, reunited in 2000 and had “sell-out” crowds and renewed enough media interest in their original material to have Jamie Records hire Grammy winning engineer Tom Moulton to re-mix 44 Kit Kats recordings and release a 2-CD set: “It’s About Time”. 

For 10 seasons Karl played at the Showboat in Atlantic City coupled with 19 seasons at Hershey Park. 

Karl brought his talents back to Berks County with his “Piano Music” TV special on BCTV for 6 years. 

The Kit Kats reunited for one day in North Wildwood on August 8 2009 to receive the Wildwood Music Award into the Wildwood Musical Hall of Fame at the Lou Booth Amphitheater. 

One unknown fact about Karl is that he was an extra in the movie Creed in 2015. He appears in the big fight towards the end of the movie. 

Karl has composed and arranged a symphony “Tales of the Old West” published by Jaime Music Publishing Co. 

In 2019 Karl was inducted into the Berks County Rock & Roll Hall of fame by the Historical Society of Berks County. 

Before the Pandemic Karl started writing several self-published novels including Life is But a Dream, Never Marry a Pianist: [57 Short Stories Why] and the Animal Lover. All of Karl’s books can be found on Amazon.com 

Karl has shared the stage with these great entertainers: Neil Diamond, Johnny Cash, Roy Clark, Del Wood, Conway Twitty, Marvin Gaye, Don Rickels, Janis Ian, The Kingsmen, Gary U.S. Bonds, The Chiffons, Martha & The Vandellas, The 4 Tops, Gene Pitney, Bo Diddley, Robbie Robertson & Levon Helm, The Safaris, Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels, Dale Hawkins, The Iron Butterfly, The Rascals, The Four Seasons, Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs, Cathay Jean & The Roommates, Gene Chandler, Ronnie Hawkins, The Glenn Miller Orchestra, The Turtles, Lou Rawls, Doc Severenson, PHL Phillies, Donald O’Conner, Frank Sinatra Jr., PHL Elvis Evoker Sammy J, and Mickey Shaunnessy. 

He has shared the stage with Philadelphia DJ Legends: Dick Clark, Jerry Blavit, Harvey Holiday, Hy Litt, Rockin’ Ron Cade, Ed Hurst, Brooks St. Ives, and Tom Lemayne. 

Karl has had the honor to play for Senator Bob Dole, PA Governor Ed Rendell, PA Governor Tom Corbett, PA State Senator Mike O’Pake, PA Governor Tom Wolf and Florida Governor Martinez. 

Karl continued to play piano and entertain fans for the length of his entire life. 

When his daughter Karli asked if he had any quotes to add to his obituary one day, Karl responded with “I sure do… tell them ‘I told you I was sick”. Karl always had a joke or a great story to accompany his piano playing. He was a true entertainer and his music will live on through his YouTube Channel which can be found at YouTube.com/KarlsPianoMusic 

Services will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church, 108 S. Robeson St., Robesonia on Thursday, February 19, 2026 at 3:00 PM. A Visitation with the family will be held at the Church on Thursday from 2:00 to 3:00 PM. Anybody who knew Karl or enjoyed his music is welcome to attend. A live stream of the service will be available for those unable to attend in person; please check on Karl’s facebook page for the link closer to the date. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to the Animal Rescue League of Berks County, 58 Kennel Rd., Birdsboro, PA 19508 or to an animal rescue of your choosing, an organization Karl felt strongly about. 

Cole Funeral Home, Robesonia is handling arrangements.

Online condolences at www.ColeFH.com

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