Boudewijn de Groot facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Boudewijn de Groot
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de Groot in 2007
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Frank Boudewijn de Groot |
| Born | 20 May 1944 Batavia, Japanese East Indies |
| Genres | Folk music |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar |
| Years active | 1964–present |
| Labels |
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| Associated acts | Tower, Session |
Frank Boudewijn de Groot (born 20 May 1944) is a famous Dutch singer-songwriter. He is well-known for his songs, especially "Welterusten Meneer de President" (Goodnight, Mister President) from 1966. He has had a long and successful career in music.
Contents
Biography
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Boudewijn de Groot was born in 1944 in what was then the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia). His early life was difficult because of World War II. After the war, he moved to the Netherlands with his family.
In 1952, his family settled in Heemstede. There, he met Lennaert Nijgh, who became a close friend and his main lyric writer. They lived on the same street!
Starting a Music Career
Boudewijn and Lennaert became friends in high school. Boudewijn loved singing, and Lennaert was great at writing song lyrics. They even went to film school together.
A TV journalist named Ed Lautenslager heard Boudewijn sing and was very impressed. This led to Boudewijn getting a record deal with Philips. His first song, "Strand" (Beach), came out in 1964.
His big break came in 1966 with the song "Meisje van 16" (Girl of 16). This song became a hit, and Boudewijn decided to become a full-time singer. Soon after, his first album, Boudewijn de Groot, was released.
Years of Fame and Popular Songs
Many of Lennaert Nijgh's lyrics talked about important social issues. Because of this, Boudewijn de Groot was sometimes called a "protest singer." His song "Welterusten Meneer de President" (Goodnight, Mister President) was about the Vietnam War and became very popular.
Later in 1966, his second album, Voor de overlevenden (For the Survivors), was released. Another big hit was "Het Land van Maas en Waal" (The Land of Maas and Waal) in 1967.
Boudewijn and Lennaert were also inspired by the Flower Power movement. They created the album Picknick, which was well-received. Songs like "Picknick" and "Meester Prikkebeen" (Master Prikkebeen) became hits. Other popular songs from this time included "Waterdrager" (Water Carrier) and "Als de rook om je hoofd is verdwenen" (When the Smoke Around Your Head Has Disappeared).
Exploring New Musical Paths
In 1968, Boudewijn decided to take a break from live performances. He also worked on different projects. With guitarist Eelco Gelling, he formed a group called Tower. Their song "In Your Life" became a hit.
After this, Boudewijn tried new musical styles with his album Nacht en ontij (Night and Untime). He even moved to a farm for a year. Later, he returned to music, but this time as a producer for other artists like Rob de Nijs.
A Strong Comeback
In 1971, a collection of his old hits, Vijf jaar hits (Five Years of Hits), was released. It sold many copies and brought Boudewijn back into the spotlight. People rediscovered his older songs, and "Als de rook om je hoofd is verdwenen" became a hit again!
Boudewijn started working with Lennaert Nijgh once more. In 1973, they released the album Hoe sterk is de eenzame fietser (How Strong Is the Lonely Cyclist). The song "Jimmy" from this album was a huge success and marked his definite return to fame. He even won important Dutch music awards like the Edison and the Gouden Harp.
They also helped Rob de Nijs have a comeback, writing many popular songs for him.
In 1975, Boudewijn released Waar ik woon en wie ik ben (Where I Live and Who I Am). He then moved to California for a while to find new inspiration. One song he wrote there, "Annabel", became a hit for another singer, Hans de Booy.
He continued to release albums, including Van een afstand (From a Distance) in 1980, which also won an Edison award. He took a break from music after his 1984 album, Maalstroom (Whirlpool).
Beyond Singing: Translating and Composing
After stepping back from singing, Boudewijn de Groot explored other creative fields. He composed music for TV shows and movies. He also acted in musicals, playing important roles like Anton Chekhov and Otto Frank in Het dagboek van Anne Frank.
Under the name "Frank de Groot," he translated many books into Dutch, including novels by famous author Stephen King.
Another Return to Music
In 1996, Boudewijn released a new album called Een Nieuwe Herfst (A New Autumn). He started touring again and appeared on TV. He continued to create new music, even after Lennaert Nijgh passed away in 2002.
In 2007, his album Lage Landen (Low Countries) became a number one hit in the Netherlands. He recorded it in Nashville, USA. In 2015, he released Achter glas (Behind Glass) and went on tour, playing both new and old songs.
Supergroup and Final Performances
In 2016, Boudewijn formed a "supergroup" called Vreemde Kostgangers (Strange Boarders). He teamed up with Henny Vrienten from the band Doe Maar and George Kooymans from Golden Earring. They released two successful albums and had sold-out tours.
In 2018, he released Even weg (Just Away) with a band called The Dutch Eagles.
On February 6, 2020, Boudewijn de Groot announced that he would retire from live performing after one last tour with Vreemde Kostgangers. The tour was later cancelled, but he continued to record music. In 2022, he released the album Windveren (Wind Feathers). The third and final Vreemde Kostgangers album was released in 2023.
Personal Life
Boudewijn de Groot is married to Anja Bak. He has three children from previous marriages: Marcel, Caya, and Jim. All of his children have followed in his footsteps with careers in music or acting. His granddaughter, Aysha, is also a singer known as Meis.
Discography
Studio Albums
- Boudewijn de Groot (1966)
- Voor de overlevenden (1966)
- Picknick (1968)
- Nacht en ontij (1969)
- Hoe sterk is de eenzame fietser (1973)
- Waar ik woon en wie ik ben (1975)
- Van een afstand (1980)
- Maalstroom (1984)
- Een nieuwe herfst (1996)
- Het eiland in de verte (2003)
- Lage Landen (2007)
- Achter glas (2015)
- Even weg (2018)
- Windveren (2022)
Live Albums
- Concert (1980)
- Een hele tour (1997)
- Andere tour (2002)
- Een avond in Brussel (2005)
- Lage Landen tour 2007 (2007)
DVDs
- Tour (2001)
- Eeuwige jeugd (2005)
- Een avond in Brussel (2005)
- Lage Landen tour 2007 (2007)
Images for kids
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de Groot in 2007
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De Groot and Ann Burton (1966)
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Boudewijn de Groot (2013)
