Profile of Peter Koelewijn on Famous Like Me

Peter Koelewijn (born 29 December 1940, Eindhoven, the Netherlands) is a founding father of Dutch language rock and roll. Koelewijn is also a successful producer and songwriter for other Dutch artists. His most famous song is Kom van dat dak af ('Come Off Of That Roof').

Peter Koelewijn was born on the 29 December, the son of a fishmonger in the southern Dutch city of Eindhoven. At the age of thirteen he received his first guitar. In 1957 he started writing his first songs in English. He started his first band at secondary school with guitarists Karel Jansen and Roelof Egmond and singer Anneke Grönloh. Later, Harry van Hoof (who later became a famous conductor), and drummer Peter van der Voort, joined the band. Around the same time, Grönloh quit.

In 1959, the band, now called 'Peter And His Rockets', were joined by saxophone player Klaus Buchholz and bass guitarist Karel Janssen. In December the band recorded Kom Van Dat Dak Af ('Come Off Of That Roof') for record company Bovema. The combination of American rock and roll and Dutch lyrics was unheard of at the time. In May 1960, Kom Van Dat Dak Af was a big success in both the Netherlands and Belgium. Koelewijn, who moved on to grammar school, was told by his parents that he had to finish his schooling. Peter and His Rockets signed to Philips. The singles Laat Me Los ('Let Me Go') and Marijke were also hits, although less successful than Kom Van Dat Dak Af.

The rockets were broken up and reformed three times. In 1967 Koelewijn decided to break up the Rockets because of a lack of success. They went on tour again in 1971, and broke up again in 1975. In 1981, Koelewijn formed a new line-up of the Rockets with musicians from the band Bunny and released the live album Peter Live; they broke up again in 1997. In 2002, Peter and his Rockets kicked off a reunion tour of seven shows.

Discography

• New Country Love Songs. In collaboration with Grant & Forsyth. 2001
• Out Of Africa. Koelewijn assists Belgian singer Helmut Lotti in making Lotti's album of South African songs. 1999
• Het Album ('The Album'). An album of songs performed by the cast of a popular Dutch soap opera, among those involved was Koelewijn. 1995.
• Diep Water ('Deep Water'). Unsuccessful. 1984.
• Peter Live. Live album of Peter and his Rockets. 1981.
• Het beste in mij is niet goed genoeg voor jou ('The Best In Me Is Not Good Enough For You'). 1977

Singles

• 1960 Kom Van Dat Dak Af - Laat Me Los ('Let Me Go') - Marijke
• 1968 Waarom Zei Je Niets? ('Why Didn't You Say Anything?')
• 1969 Loekie Loekie
• 1970 The Bull And I
• 1971 Kom Van Dat Dak Af (first re-release)
• 1972 Angeline - Mij Oh Mij - Nassibal - Serafina - Veronica Sorry
• 1974 240042
• 1977 Je Wordt Ouder Papa ('You're Getting Older Daddy')
• 1979 Niet Geschoten is Altijd Mis ('Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained')
• 1981 Kom Van Dat Dak Af (live version; second re-release) - Klap Maar In Je Handen ('Clap Your Hands') (live version) - Van Washington Naar Moskou ('From Washington to Moskow')
• 1982 Zolang De Motor Loopt ('As Long As The Motor Is Running')
• 1983 De Tijger Is Los ('The Tiger Is Loose'), played by Peter and his Rockets - Een Hete Zomer ('A Hot Summer'), played by Peter and his Rockets
• 1984 Sprong In Het Duister ('Leap In The Dark')
• 1986 Big Ben (of Nôtre Dame) for Eurovision Songcontest in Brussels, Belgium - Buiten Jou ('Outside You') for Eurovision - Rechtop In De Wind ('Straight Up In The Wind') for Eurovision
• 1989 Kom Van Dat Dak Af (third re-release) - My Roof Is Rainproof for the Dutch film Jan Rap en zijn Maat.
• 1990 Allemaal naar voren! ('t Bestuur ook!) ('Everybody Forward! (Including The Management)') in collaboration with Ferdi Lancee
• 1994 I Love You Too in collaboration with Helmut Lotti
• 1995 Eeen Minuut Nog Voor Een Leven Lang ('One Minute More For An Entire Life') - Utopia

Awards

• Edison music award — 1977
• Gouden Harp — 1977

References and external links

• peterkoelewijn.nl

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