André Hazes

André Hazes (June 30 1951 - September 23 2004) was a Dutch singer. He was born in 1951 in the Pijp in Amsterdam.

Related Topics:
June 30 - 1951 - September 23 - 2004 - Dutch - Amsterdam

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At the age of eight, he was discovered at the Albert Cuyp-market by Johnny Kraaykamp, a Dutch TV personality.

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His first big hit was Eenzame Kerst (Lonely Christmas). In 1979 he signed a contract with EMI, and soon after that his career started to take off. Een Vriend (A Friend) and Een Beetje Verliefd (A Bit In Love) were both top ten hits of his.

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Beyond all doubt, his 1977 hit song De Vlieger (The Kite) is the best-known and famed piece of work by Hazes, as it grew into a genuine Dutch evergreen.

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1982 was the year of his great concert in the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. His Italian album in 1986, in memory of Willy Alberti, was followed by a blues album. A childhood dream had come true.

Related Topics:
Willy Alberti - Blues

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In 1999, André featured in a real life documentary Zij Gelooft In Mij (She Believes In Me), thanks to which he obtained a cult status outside of his loyal fan base, increasing his already firm popularity.

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André was known to live unhealthy, beer and alcohol being his main vices. He himself once said: "If it wasn't for the fame, I'd be a full-blown alcoholic." In fact, he already was; he just managed to integrate this well into his life.

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On September 23 2004, he died of a cardiac arrest. Eventually his habits had caught up with him, and somehow André became bigger in death than he had ever been during his lifetime. Everybody identified with the small underdog and subsequently André became public domain the months after his death.

Related Topics:
September 23 - 2004

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Four days after he deceased, an amazing crowd of about 40,000 attended a memorial ceremony in his honour at the Amsterdam ArenA stadium. Over 5 million viewers followed the event, broadcast live on Dutch television. Hazes was cremated the day after.

Related Topics:
Crowd - Amsterdam ArenA

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Exactly one year after his death, in accordance with his wishes, his remaining ashes were distributed over a couple of skyrockets, which were then launched into the sky by his surviving relatives.

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