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Peter Koelewijn

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

Peter Koelewijn was born in 1940 in Eindhoven, the son of a fishmonger. He got his first guitar at thirteen and from 1957 wrote songs, at first in English. He is regarded as one of the founders of Dutch-language rock 'n' roll. With his band Peter and his Rockets he recorded Kom van dat dak af in December 1959, which became a big success in the Netherlands and Belgium in May 1960. That combination of American rock 'n' roll and Dutch lyrics was very innovative at the time. His next singles Laat Me Los and Marijke did less well. In 1967 he disbanded the Rockets to write and produce songs for other artists, and to make radio programmes.

Music and breakthrough

In 1970 he brought the band together again for a glam rock period of five years. His composition Klap Maar in Je Handen from 1973 became a number one for the South African singer Maria, and is still played at parties there. In 1977 his first solo album Het Beste in Mij Is Niet Goed Genoeg Voor Jou appeared, containing, among others, KL 204 (Als Ik God Was), of which Engelbert Humperdinck recorded an English version.

Influence

In 1981 he formed a new line-up of the Rockets with musicians from the band Bunny, which lasted until 1997. In 1985 he had a top 40 hit with Sprong in Het Duister. In 1995 he fronted the comedy band Gompie, whose version of Smokie's Living Next Door to Alice topped the charts. Koelewijn is thus a singer as well as a songwriter and producer, and an important name in Dutch-language pop music.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Kom van dat dak af. Notice how Dutch lyrics and the rock 'n' roll sound work together and what made that new in 1960.

Discography

Studio albums

Mentioned in other articles

Categories: Artists