Biography
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Born
27 July 1948
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Born In
Hilvarenbeek, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands
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Died
25 April 2022 (aged 73)
Henny Vrienten (27 July 1948-25 April 2022) was a Dutch musician, composer and singer-songwriter, best known as bass player, vocalist and songwriter of Doe Maar, the Dutch-language reggae/ska/pop band that became one of the most popular bands of all time in The Netherlands.
Vrienten played in Doe Maar from 1980 until the band's break-up in 1984.
Having played in several beat bands in his home town of Tilburg, including Les Cruches, Vrienten's professional career in music really took off in the early 1970s when he joined the backing band of legendary singer-songwriter, Boudewijn de Groot. One of his band mates was Ernst Jansz, who was to front Doe Maar with Vrienten some ten years later.
He also recorded under the pseudonyms, Ruby Carmichael (1974) and Paul Santos (1977).
Vrienten's first solo album under his real name, Geen Ballade, came out in 1984, when Doe Maar was almost finished.
After the demise of Doe Maar, Vrienten embarked on a prolific solo career as a composer of many Dutch film scores, songs for theatre plays and musicals, as well as countless children's songs for Dutch TV shows, 'Sesamstraat' (the Dutch version of Sesame Street) and 'Het Klokhuis'. He also released an album with Henk Hofstede (of Nits) and Frank Boeijen, entitled Aardige jongens (2008).
His second Henny Vrienten solo album, Mijn hart slaapt nooit, was released in 1991 to modest commercial success. His long overdue third album, En toch..., saw the light of day in November 2014.
September 2016 saw him embark on a theatre tour under the moniker Vreemde Kostgangers, a collaboration with his long time friends and fellow legendary Dutch songwriters, Boudewijn de Groot and George Kooymans of Golden Earring.
On 25th of April 2022 Henny Vrienten died of lung cancer at the age of 73.
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