Armand (singer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Armand
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Armand in 2009
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| Born |
Herman George van Loenhout
10 April 1946 |
| Died | 19 November 2015 (aged 69) Eindhoven, The Netherlands
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| Nationality | Dutch |
| Occupation | Protest singer |
Herman George van Loenhout (born April 10, 1946 – died November 19, 2015) was a Dutch singer. He was best known by his stage name, Armand. He was famous for his "protest songs." These songs often shared strong messages about society. His most well-known song was "Ben ik te min," which means "Am I not good enough?" Armand became popular during the hippie era. This was a time when many young people wanted peace and change.
Biography
Early Life and Music
Armand was inspired by famous folk singers like Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger, and Woody Guthrie. He started his music journey in bands such as Splendour Boys and Shannon Boys.
In 1965, Armand released his first solo song, "En nou ik." It didn't become a hit. His next song, "En een van hen ben ik," did a bit better. But it was the other side of that record, "Ben ik te min," that became a huge national hit. This happened about three months later, when radio stations started playing it.
Armand's first album came out in 1967. It stayed on the Dutch music charts for 14 weeks. Later that year, his song "Blommenkinders" also made it into the Top 40. It reached number 19.
Later Career and Collaborations
In 1970, Armand moved to a new record company called Telstar Records. Between 1971 and 1981, he released six albums on their Kilroy label. These albums often had lyrics that talked about social issues. They were inspired by the ideas of the hippie movement from the late 1960s.
Armand decided to leave big record companies in 1990. He wanted more freedom to make the music he truly believed in. In 1994, he released an album called "One of Eur Kind." You could only buy it at his live shows.
In 1996, Armand celebrated his 50th birthday. He released a collection of his songs called 50 jaar Armand. Another album, A Tribute to Armand/50 years, followed soon after.
In 2011, Armand appeared on a TV show called Op Volle Toeren. He was the first Dutch hippie artist to be on the show. He sang his own version of a rap song called "Straattaal." In return, a rapper named Nina sang her version of Armand's hit, "Ben ik te min."
Armand started working with other musicians in 2012. These included singer-songwriter Lucky Fonz III and Dave von Raven from the band The Kik. They were both big fans of his music. In June 2015, Armand & The Kik released an album together. It featured new versions of Armand's less famous songs. They also went on a tour in the Netherlands.
Armand passed away in Eindhoven on November 19, 2015. He was 69 years old and died from pneumonia.
