Who Is Henny Vrienten?
Henny Vrienten was a renowned Dutch ska pop singer and bassist in the 1980s. In addition, he composed music for television and film.
Vrienten started out as a member of the local band Les Cruches in the late 1960s.
He wrote songs for others before releasing his first single as Ruby Carmichael in the early 1970s.
Paul Santos, Vrienten’s first solo album, was released in 1977 and was produced by Tom Salisbury in the United States. As a single, “Lift Me Higher” was released.
In the 1970s, he began to collaborate in the studio and on stage with singer-songwriter Boudewijn de Groot.
Vrienten met keyboard player Ernst Jansz and drummer Johnny Lodewijks while recording the 1975 album Waar ik woon en wie ik ben. They should start a reggae band, said the latter.
Jansz then invited Vrienten to join his band Doe Maar, but the songwriter declined, believing that a Dutch-language band performing for pleasure would fail.
However, in 1980, he changed his mind. Vrienten joined Doe Maar just in time for Skunk, the band’s second album. He contributed three tracks and co-designed the band’s signature green/pink sleeve.
In March 1981, the album was finally published after a long delay. “32 Jaar,” the first single, became a hit.
Doe Maar’s follow-up, “Smoorverliefd,” fell short of the Top 40, but with “Doris Day,” published in 1982, they broke through and became significant figures in the New Dutch Wave boom.
They were initially ecstatic with their newfound fame, but six months later, doubts began to seep in.
Vrienten and his son starred in a self-made documentary about bass players in 2019, which was a follow-up to 2013’s Gitaarjongens, which focused on the joy of playing guitar.
During the final season of the conversation show De Wereld Draait Door, the two became artists-in-residence. Tussen de Regels, a new solo album, was released at the end of September.
Due to Vrienten’s terrible health, the Doe Maar farewell tour was canceled in 2021.
How Did Henny Vrienten Die?
Henny Vrienten, a singer and songwriter, died at the age of 73. The family made the announcement through concert promoter MOJO. Vrienten had been sick for quite a while.
Doe Maar announced at the end of September that the farewell tour would be canceled owing to Van Vrienten’s illness. But no one said anything about what was wrong with him at the time.
The funeral will be held in the privacy of the family. According to Mojo, the family requests peace and privacy and will not make any further announcements.
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