
Biography
I was born on November 4, 1958 at 6:30 am in Middelburg, The Netherlands.
There were 5 of us in the family; mum, dad, my brother and sister.
Looking back, I can say I enjoyed my youth. We moved several times and I
liked that.
We lived close to the North Sea. The beach life had a huge impact on me.
One day in 1972, my brother took me to the cinema to see the 'Apple
films' concert documentary of the Concert for Bangladesh. I was 13 and
impressed and will never forget what I saw that night. Bob Dylan and
George Harrison playing together two songs, "Blowing in the wind' and
'Just like a woman'. My love for music and song writing was born. I
didn’t know then that music would become so important to me many years
later.
My sister owned a guitar. When she wasn't at home I would borrow it and a
little songbook with chords and teach myself my favourite song 'Blowing
in the wind' over the span of a few weeks. Later that year on my
birthday, my parents bought me my first guitar. I can remember spending
hours and hours every day on that guitar.
When I was 18 years old I left home because I had a disagreement with my
parents about a girl I was seeing. I took the first train to her place
and we lived together many years. We had a family and were happy most of
the time. I had various jobs to earn money but I could not find
satisfaction in the work I was doing. I eventually divorced her and
later married again. After my father died in 2001 and my second
relationship was in trouble, I began to return to my daydreaming
reminiscing over those years when I was a happy teenager.
It was Christmas of 2006. I was alone at night and I can remember
deciding to pick up my guitar again and to make a record before my 50th
birthday. Since that moment things really began to change. I released
several CD's and performed everywhere I could play not only in Holland,
but also in Germany, Sweden, Scotland and Austria.
I continued to hold down a full time job so as to earn money but I could
not do it any more with enough commitment because my heart was with my
music.
I knew in 2011 that a big change would come in 2012.
It came on one historical night on February 29, 2012. Elaine Allison from Scotland opened my eyes by saying: "Can't you see? It is in front of you. You are a musician and you have to share your songs with people. That's your duty on earth"
Since then I travel across Europe to perform my songs and share my life and stories.