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Harrie Jekkers

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Harrie Jekkers was born on 1 July 1951 in the Schilderswijk district of The Hague and grew up in Moerwijk. He studied English in Groningen and then spent a few years teaching in Utrecht. When that did not suit him very well, he began writing songs and lyrics, encouraged by his father.

Music and breakthrough

In 1978, with Koos Meinderts, he founded 't Klein Orkest after the group Groot Orkest had fallen apart. The group came out of the world of cabaret and sang in Dutch about ordinary people and big questions. The breakthrough came with Over de muur, a song about divided Berlin that Jekkers had wanted to write as neutrally as possible, but which nevertheless became known as a protest song. In 1982, under the pseudonym Harry Klorkestein, an anagram of Klein Orkest, he had a big hit with O, o, Den Haag. That song is still regarded as the unofficial anthem of The Hague. The album Later is allang begonnen was released in 1984.

Influence

In 1985 't Klein Orkest broke up and Jekkers became a cabaret performer, again with lyrics he wrote together with Meinderts. He also wrote for Kinderen voor Kinderen and for children's theatre. Later he appeared in theatres with Jeroen van Merwijk, and from 2017 to 2019 Klein Orkest went on a comeback tour. Jekkers combines the humour and precision of cabaret with the simplicity of the pop song. Since 2001 he has lived in Ibiza.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Over de muur by Klein Orkest. Notice how Jekkers, without grand words, describes what people on either side of the wall see and miss, and the calm, almost narrative pace of the song.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

The chapters, maps and magazine stories of School of Rock are currently available in Dutch only.

Mentioned in other articles

Categories: Artists