From the Belgian-British absurdist film "At the Drop of a Head" or "Ordonnans" (1962), performed by the Belgian broad-talented singer-songwriter and comedian Bobbejaan Schoepen. Bobbejaan can be characterized as a "total performer" and entrepreneur: he was a pioneer in Belgian music history introducing the first country-folk songs in 1948, also in The Netherlands, Germany (1950) and later also in Austria. Schoepen was a multi-instrumentalist, a world famous yodeler and whistler, as well a comedian and a former actor.
His debut concert took place in the Ancienne Belgique, a famous venue in Antwerp in november 1943. During that concert he was arrested by the Nazi's because he performed a song that was seen as anti-German.
From 1946 to 1949 he did floor shows for the American Special Forces who were located in near several German cities, e.g. Frankfurt, Berlin and Nürnberg during the Nazi-trials.
In the 50s he was an international multi-talented artist who toured in 20 countries. He was the first European who performed at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, with host Roy Acuff on June, 13 1953, and did also guest performances with other country artists, e.g. Red Foley.
Steve Sholes, one of the most influential producers in postwar music who was responsible not only for the birth of the Nashville Sound, but also for signing e.g. Chet Atkins, Elton Britt and Elvis Presley to RCA, signed also Bobbejaan as "Bobby John" in January 1957 for studio recordings and a promo-tour in several radio stations in North America.
As a performer he reached his peak in Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany and Austria in 1960. The Cash Box music magazine describes him as the turning point who made not only country music popular in Germany and Austria, but his succes also opened the doors for western movies on a large scale.
He also wrote evergreens that became #1 hits by other internationally famous artist, like in France, Argentina and an evergreen that peaked #2 in The Netherlands and which became also very famous until today in Germany and Austria.
In 1961 he opened his own venue together with his wife Josee, a top model who won the first price at the conservatorium of Brussels performing J.S. Bach.
The venue was the center of their park, named Bobbejaanland. But year after year it became an internationally famous amusement (western themed) park. When the family sold the park in 2004 (after 43 years), the venue was surrounded by 50 attractions, including 6 roller coasters and other thrill rides.
More info: see his biography on his official website: www.bobbejaan.be/en/biography
'The World of Bobbejaan - Songbook' - an official compilation with 76 songs from 1948 to 2008, released by Bobbejaan Records in 2009 - is available on iTunes and Spotify.
#Yodeling #whistling #GrandOleOpry
25 дек 2007
