Andre Hazes Dutch singer-chansonnier Date of Birth: 30.06.1951 Country: Netherlands

Biography of Andre Hazes

Andre Hazes was a Dutch singer-songwriter known for his contribution to the chanson genre. Born in 1951 in Amsterdam, Netherlands, he developed a passion for music at an early age, particularly rock and roll. His talent was recognized when he appeared on the television program "AVRO's Weekendshow" at the age of eight. Despite releasing his debut single, "Droomschip," which did not achieve much success, Hazes received his breakthrough at the age of 26 with the help of Willy Alberti, who assisted him in releasing the single "Eenzame Kerst" under Philips Records.

In the summer of 1977, Hazes released his first album titled "Zo Is Het Leven," which was warmly received by critics and audiences, establishing him as a commercially successful artist. Despite the success, Hazes decided to continue working as a bartender rather than pursue a career in the music industry. However, in the 1980s, he signed a contract with the label EMI and experienced a resurgence in his career. His compositions "Een Vriend" and "Een Beetje Verliefd" reached the Top 10 in 1981, and he released the album "Gewoon Andre." He received the "Zilveren Harp" award and achieved platinum status for the album.

In 1988, Hazes faced personal tragedies as he lost his friend and producer, Tim Griek, in a car accident. He dedicated his album "Liefde, leven, geven" to Griek's memory. The same year, he performed "Wij houden van Oranje" during a football match, which became a hit after the Dutch team won the European football championship. Although his career slowed down in the late 1980s, Hazes continued to release albums, perform concerts, and participate in significant musical events throughout the 1990s.

In 2003, Hazes celebrated his 25th anniversary as a performer with great fanfare. By this time, he had recorded over 30 studio and live albums, and he enjoyed immense popularity among his fellow countrymen. He also became the subject of the film "Zij Gelooft In Mij," which portrayed his life as a musician. Hazes ventured into politics and was elected to the municipality, but his political career was met with criticism, leading him to resign.

In May 2004, Hazes canceled his concerts due to health issues, and in September, he was urgently hospitalized. Just two days after his hospitalization, he passed away on September 23, 2004. A civil memorial service was held at the Amsterdam Arena, attended by nearly 50,000 people from the Netherlands and Belgium, with millions more watching the funeral broadcast on television. One year later, on September 23, 2005, Hazes' ashes were scattered in the sky, and a memorial dedicated to him was unveiled in Amsterdam, his hometown.