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Henk Westbroek

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

Henk Westbroek is a Dutch singer, lyricist, radio presenter and entrepreneur, born in 1952 in Zuilen, which is now part of Utrecht. He grew up in a poor family and studied sociology in Utrecht. While still a student he performed in left-wing circles. In the late 1970s he formed the band Het Goede Doel with his friend Henk Temming.

Music and breakthrough

Het Goede Doel became one of the most successful Dutch-language groups of the 1980s. The debut album België (1982) sold better that year than any other debut. Hits followed such as In 't leven, Gijzelaar, Eenvoud, Nooduitgang and Vriendschap. Westbroek wrote sharp lyrics, and some broadcasters refused to play songs because they found the subject too sensitive. In 1991 he left after a disagreement with Temming. As a solo artist he started with Voorjaar (1992), and in 1998 he had a big hit with Zelfs je naam is mooi. For others he wrote Toveren for Herman van Veen, among other songs, together with Temming.

Influence

Westbroek was more than a singer. For years he presented radio, including Denk aan Henk on 3FM, and at VARA a programme with nothing but hard rock. In Utrecht he had the café Stairway to Heaven, where well-known artists performed. He also went into politics, for Leefbaar Utrecht and Leefbaar Nederland, and left that in 2002. Together with Temming he showed that pop music with Dutch lyrics about ordinary and uncomfortable subjects could reach a large audience.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Vriendschap by Het Goede Doel. Notice how the lyrics tell a story in plain Dutch, carried by a 1980s pop sound.

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