Eddy Wally facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Eddy Wally
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Eddy Wally, "The Voice of Europe" (in concert), 2008
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Eduard Van De Walle |
| Also known as | Eddy Wally, "Wow!" Guy |
| Born | 12 July 1932 Zelzate, East Flanders, Belgium |
| Died | 6 February 2016 (aged 83) Zelzate, Belgium |
| Genres | Pop, schlager |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, singer-songwriter, producer, actor |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1959–2012 |
Eduard Van De Walle (born July 12, 1932 – died February 6, 2016) was a famous Belgian singer. He was known by his stage name Eddy Wally. He came from Zelzate, East Flanders, in Belgium. People often called him "The Voice of Europe."
Eddy Wally was a great singer and performer. He traveled all over the world to sing. He performed in places like China, Australia, many countries in Europe, and the United States. In 1979, he even had 24 shows in the Soviet Union. Eddy Wally was not very tall, so he sometimes used chairs during his performances.
He was most famous for his song "Chérie." This song sold so many copies that it became a double-platinum hit! Other popular songs by Eddy Wally included "Ik spring uit een vliegmachien" ("I'll jump out of an aeroplane") and "Dans Mi Amor."
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Eddy Wally's Unique Style
Eddy Wally was known for his very flashy and shiny clothes. He wore expensive outfits both on and off stage. His style was very unique and eye-catching.
In 2004, a museum in Hasselt bought many of Eddy Wally's clothes. They put on a special show called "Eddy Wally's Geweldige Garderobe" (Eddy Wally's Amazing Wardrobe). This show featured 115 custom-made outfits. Each outfit was worth a lot of money!
Famous Belgian artist Kamagurka once said that Eddy Wally is pop art. This means his style was as bold and exciting as modern art.
People often wondered if Eddy Wally was always so eccentric, or if he acted that way for his fans. Jan Van Rompaey, a TV host who interviewed Wally many times, said Eddy was not just acting. He believed Wally had a limited vocabulary and exaggerated his unique personality. Kamagurka also thought Wally acted strange because people expected it from a famous person. He even shared that Eddy Wally had some kind of dyslexia. This meant he wrote all his song lyrics in his own special way, using sounds instead of correct spelling. He also found it hard to remember lines for shows.
The "Wow!" Meme
Eddy Wally became famous worldwide for something else too. In 2007, a short video of him saying "Wow!" and winking was put on YouTube. This video quickly became an Internet meme. Many other YouTube users started using his "Wow!" clip in their own videos for fun and comedy.
A writer named Deborah Bishop is currently writing a book about Eddy Wally. It is called 'Wow!'.
Early Life and Career
Before he became a singer, Eddy Wally worked as a market trader. He sold handbags. In the 1960s, he became very popular after working with Dutch music producer Johnny Hoes.
Eddy Wally even had his own disco! It was first called "Eddy Wally's Texas Bar," but later changed to "Chérie-Paris Las Vegas."
He was also a regular guest on a British TV show called Eurotrash. On this show, he was famous for his very unusual and exciting clothes.
Special Honours
Eddy Wally received some very special honours during his life:
- An asteroid in space was named after him! It is called 9205 Eddywally. This asteroid orbits the sun between Mars and Jupiter.
- He was made a Knight of the Order of Leopold in 2005. This is a very important award from the King of Belgium.
His Passing
Eddy Wally passed away on February 6, 2016. He was 83 years old and died after having a stroke.
See also
In Spanish: Eddy Wally para niños
