Hennie Vrienten
| Henny Vrienten | |
|---|---|
Vrienten in Delft (June 2008)
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| Background information | |
| Born |
27 July 1948 Hilvarenbeek, Netherlands |
| Genres | Ska, film score |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, bassist, composer |
| Associated acts | Doe Maar |
Henny Vrienten (born July 27, 1948 in Hilvarenbeek) is a Dutch composer of TV- and film-scores. He is best known as the singer, songwriter and bassist of the popular 1980s ska pop band Doe Maar.
Beginning his career in the late 1960s as a member of local outfit Les Cruches, Henny spends the early 1970s writing songs for others and recording as Ruby Carmichael. He also works and tours with singer-songwriter Boudewijn de Groot alongside Ernst Jansz, two months his senior.
Henny also finds time to record an album with US producer Tom Salisbury. Paul Santos (released early 1977) and extracted single Lift Me Up Higher become a live-to-regret-experience, and in 1982 Henny confesses that "it still causes me nightmares."
During his work with Boudewijn de Groot, Henny met keyboard-player Ernst Jansz and drummer Johnny Lodewijks; the latter suggested to form a reggae-band. The Rumbones (Rumboon; Dutch alcohol-filled chocolate) toured from October 13 to November 12, 1977 and then the band split up immediately. Henny moved on to Sammie America's Gasphetti, recorded demos at his garage and did another tour with de Groot. Jansz offers him to join his band Doe Maar but Henny turns it down, questioning the survival prospects of a Dutch-language group playing for fun. In 1980 he changes his mind after ending the relationship with his wife and her two teenage kids; not only does he join Doe Maar, he also delivers three songs for the second album and co-designs the green/pink-sleeve.
Skunk is belatedly released in March 1981, 32 Jaar (32 Years) being the lead single and a hit. Follow-up Smoorverliefd (Smitten) misses the Top 40, but with the 1982-released Doris Day (a complaint against TV boredom) Doe Maar break through and become key-figures of the New Dutch Wave-explosion. Initially they enjoy their newfound popularity, but six months down the line Henny starts having his doubts: "What makes those teenage-girls fancy a thirtysomething? Is this what I want?" The answer is no, and the first thing he does is quit reading fanmail.
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Wikipedia