Will Hoebee
Encyclopedia
Will Hoebee is a Dutch record producer
and songwriter
. Since late 1981
, he is married to José Hoebee
(singer of the girl group
Luv'
). Benny Neyman
, Saskia & Serge
, Gheorghe Zamfir
, David Soul
and Nana Mouskouri
were among the acts he produced.
(a Dutch public broadcasting organisation) where he met many celebrities. He later worked at the phonoteque of the NRU (currently NOS
). At this time, he was approached by Herman Stok and Hans Kemna and assisted them in the preparation of radio programs. In 1970
, he entered the radio promotion
division of Ariola Records
. Two years later, he was hired by Phonogram Records
where he stayed until the early 1980s.
. They co-wrote the Dutch Top 5 hit single "Patrick Mon Chéri" performed by Kiki & Pearly in 1975. French pop singer Sheila
covered that year this song that went gold in France
and sold 800.000 copies. Soon after, Hoebee produced the Dutch version of Austin Roberts
signature song
"Rocky" that hit the number one spot in the Netherlands
and was performed by Don Mercedes. In 1977, he founded with Koelewijn the "Born Free" label (a Phonogram
subsidiary). Saskia & Serge
and Rob de Nijs were part of the roster of this short-lived record company.
In 1979
, Will met Luv'
singer José Hoebee
. They got married in late 1981
and celebrated their wedding reception in David Soul
's villa in Los Angeles
. Their son (Tim) was born on October 14, 1985. Will supervised some of his wife's recordings (including the Top 20 hit So Long, Marianne (in duet with TV host Ron Brandsteder in 1984) and the album "Herinnering" with Bonnie Saint Claire with Dutch cover versions of ABBA
songs in 1985). Then he was involved in the production of the Dutch version of the children's musical Abbacadabra
.
Moreover, he produced famous Dutch artists (like André van Duin
, Bonnie St. Claire or Benny Neyman
(with whom he scored the #1 hit Waarom fluister ik je naam nog in Holland) but also international performers (such as Gheorghe Zamfir
, Vicky Leandros
, Nana Mouskouri
and David Soul
).
During the 1980s, Hoebee was an A&R manager at the CNR label and later at Koch
records.
wrote a weekly column. He also produced a TV talent show
(Tijd Voor Talent) hosted by his wife and aired on a Dutch local channel "VSM TV". In 2009, he recorded with Piet Souer
a new rendering of a Phil Spector
classic hit (Be My Baby
) performed by former BZN
member Anny Schilder and José
.
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
. Since late 1981
1981 in music
See also:* Timeline of musical eventsThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1981.-January–April:*January 10 – A revival of the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta The Pirates of Penzance opens at Broadway's Uris Theatre, starring Linda Ronstadt and Rex Smith.*January 24 –...
, he is married to José Hoebee
José Hoebee
José Hoebee is a Dutch pop female singer. She is part of Luv' . In late 1981, she went solo and was successful in her homeland and in the Flanders region of Belgium between 1982 and 1985...
(singer of the girl group
Girl group
A girl group is a popular music act featuring several young female singers who generally harmonise together.Girl groups emerged in the late 1950s as groups of young singers teamed up with behind-the-scenes songwriters and music producers to create hit singles, often featuring glossy production...
Luv'
Luv'
Luv is a Dutch pop girl group that scored a string of hit records in Continental Europe as well as South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Mexico in the late 1970s and early 1980s. In 1979, Luv' was "Holland's best export act" and thus received the "Conamus Export Prize"...
). Benny Neyman
Benny Neyman
Wilhelmus Albertus Neyman was a Dutch singer.-Biography:...
, Saskia & Serge
Saskia & Serge
Saskia & Serge are a Dutch vocal duo consisting of singer Trudy van den Berg and singer-guitarist Ruud Schaap...
, Gheorghe Zamfir
Gheorghe Zamfir
Gheorghe Zamfir is a Romanian pan flute musician.Zamfir is known for playing an expanded version of the traditional Romanian-style pan flute of 20 pipes to 22, 25, 28 and 30 pipes to increase its range, and obtaining as many as eight overtones from each pipe by changing the embouchure.He is...
, David Soul
David Soul
David Soul is an American-British actor and singer, best known for his role as Detective Kenneth "Hutch" Hutchinson in the television programme Starsky and Hutch . He gained British citizenship in 2004.-Early life:...
and Nana Mouskouri
Nana Mouskouri
Nana Mouskouri , born Ioánna Moúschouri on October 13, 1934, in Chania, Crete, Greece, is a Greek singer who has sold about 300 million records worldwide in a career spanning over five decades, making her one of the best-selling music artists of all time. She was known as Nána to her friends and...
were among the acts he produced.
Debut
After graduating from High School, Hoebee found a job at the mailing service of the AVROAvro
Avro was a British aircraft manufacturer, with numerous landmark designs such as the Avro 504 trainer in the First World War, the Avro Lancaster, one of the pre-eminent bombers of the Second World War, and the delta wing Avro Vulcan, a stalwart of the Cold War.-Early history:One of the world's...
(a Dutch public broadcasting organisation) where he met many celebrities. He later worked at the phonoteque of the NRU (currently NOS
Nederlandse Omroep Stichting
The Nederlandse Omroep Stichting , English: Netherlands Broadcasting Foundation, is one of the broadcasters in the Netherlands Public Broadcasting system...
). At this time, he was approached by Herman Stok and Hans Kemna and assisted them in the preparation of radio programs. In 1970
1970 in music
- Events :*January 3**Davy Jones announces he is leaving the Monkees**Former Pink Floyd frontman Syd Barrett releases his first solo album The Madcap Laughs....
, he entered the radio promotion
Radio promotion
Radio promotion is the division of a record company which is charged with placing songs on the radio. They maintain relationships with program directors at radio stations and attempt to persuade them to play singles to promote the sale of recordings, such as CDs, sold by the record company...
division of Ariola Records
Ariola Records
Ariola Records is a German record label. As of the late 1980s, it was a subsidiary label of BMG which in turn has since become a part of the international media conglomerate Sony Music Entertainment...
. Two years later, he was hired by Phonogram Records
Phonogram Records
Phonogram Records was started in 1962 as a joint venture between Philips Records and Deutsche Grammophon. In 1972, Phonogram was merged with Polydor Records into PolyGram....
where he stayed until the early 1980s.
A successful record producer
In the mid 1970s, Will Hoebee started his collaboration with producer/songwriter Peter KoelewijnPeter Koelewijn
Peter Koelewijn 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 .Peter Koelewijn was born on the 29 December, the son of a fishmonger in the southern Dutch city of...
. They co-wrote the Dutch Top 5 hit single "Patrick Mon Chéri" performed by Kiki & Pearly in 1975. French pop singer Sheila
Sheila (singer)
Sheila is a French pop singer, who became successful as a solo artist in the 1960s and 1970s and later fronted a disco act called Sheila and B. Devotion. Sheila has sold over 24,000,000 copies of records in France and was the top selling artist in France in the 1960s and 1970s...
covered that year this song that went gold in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and sold 800.000 copies. Soon after, Hoebee produced the Dutch version of Austin Roberts
Austin Roberts (singer)
Austin Roberts is an American singer and songwriter. His most successful recording was 1975's "Rocky"; a transatlantic Top 40 hit single.-Early years:...
signature song
Signature song
A signature song is the one song that a popular and well-established singer or band is most closely identified with or best known for, even if they have had success with a variety of songs...
"Rocky" that hit the number one spot in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and was performed by Don Mercedes. In 1977, he founded with Koelewijn the "Born Free" label (a Phonogram
Phonogram Records
Phonogram Records was started in 1962 as a joint venture between Philips Records and Deutsche Grammophon. In 1972, Phonogram was merged with Polydor Records into PolyGram....
subsidiary). Saskia & Serge
Saskia & Serge
Saskia & Serge are a Dutch vocal duo consisting of singer Trudy van den Berg and singer-guitarist Ruud Schaap...
and Rob de Nijs were part of the roster of this short-lived record company.
In 1979
1979 in music
See also:Record labels established in 1979* 1979 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1979.-January–February:*January 1...
, Will met Luv'
Luv'
Luv is a Dutch pop girl group that scored a string of hit records in Continental Europe as well as South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Mexico in the late 1970s and early 1980s. In 1979, Luv' was "Holland's best export act" and thus received the "Conamus Export Prize"...
singer José Hoebee
José Hoebee
José Hoebee is a Dutch pop female singer. She is part of Luv' . In late 1981, she went solo and was successful in her homeland and in the Flanders region of Belgium between 1982 and 1985...
. They got married in late 1981
1981 in music
See also:* Timeline of musical eventsThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1981.-January–April:*January 10 – A revival of the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta The Pirates of Penzance opens at Broadway's Uris Theatre, starring Linda Ronstadt and Rex Smith.*January 24 –...
and celebrated their wedding reception in David Soul
David Soul
David Soul is an American-British actor and singer, best known for his role as Detective Kenneth "Hutch" Hutchinson in the television programme Starsky and Hutch . He gained British citizenship in 2004.-Early life:...
's villa in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. Their son (Tim) was born on October 14, 1985. Will supervised some of his wife's recordings (including the Top 20 hit So Long, Marianne (in duet with TV host Ron Brandsteder in 1984) and the album "Herinnering" with Bonnie Saint Claire with Dutch cover versions of ABBA
ABBA
ABBA was a Swedish pop group formed in Stockholm in 1970 which consisted of Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Agnetha Fältskog...
songs in 1985). Then he was involved in the production of the Dutch version of the children's musical Abbacadabra
Abbacadabra
Abbacadabra is the name of a French children's musical based on songs from the pop group ABBA, originally produced for French television in 1983 by Alain and Daniel Boublil, but which was later also transferred to an English stage version and two other television programs.-French television...
.
Moreover, he produced famous Dutch artists (like André van Duin
André van Duin
André van Duin is a Dutch actor , singer, writer and program creator.-Television, radio and theatre:...
, Bonnie St. Claire or Benny Neyman
Benny Neyman
Wilhelmus Albertus Neyman was a Dutch singer.-Biography:...
(with whom he scored the #1 hit Waarom fluister ik je naam nog in Holland) but also international performers (such as Gheorghe Zamfir
Gheorghe Zamfir
Gheorghe Zamfir is a Romanian pan flute musician.Zamfir is known for playing an expanded version of the traditional Romanian-style pan flute of 20 pipes to 22, 25, 28 and 30 pipes to increase its range, and obtaining as many as eight overtones from each pipe by changing the embouchure.He is...
, Vicky Leandros
Vicky Leandros
Vicky Leandros is a Greek singer with a long international career. She is the daughter of singer, musician and composer Leandros Papathanasiou...
, Nana Mouskouri
Nana Mouskouri
Nana Mouskouri , born Ioánna Moúschouri on October 13, 1934, in Chania, Crete, Greece, is a Greek singer who has sold about 300 million records worldwide in a career spanning over five decades, making her one of the best-selling music artists of all time. She was known as Nána to her friends and...
and David Soul
David Soul
David Soul is an American-British actor and singer, best known for his role as Detective Kenneth "Hutch" Hutchinson in the television programme Starsky and Hutch . He gained British citizenship in 2004.-Early life:...
).
During the 1980s, Hoebee was an A&R manager at the CNR label and later at Koch
Koch Entertainment
Koch Entertainment was a music, film and television distribution company. It was purchased by E1 Entertainment in 2005 and now operates under the name E1 Entertainment.-History:The company began in 1975 as Koch International...
records.
Later career
He slowed down his career in the music business in the 1990s. In 2004, he took part in a music internet portal "muziekmaken.nl" (nowadays defunct) in which JoséJosé Hoebee
José Hoebee is a Dutch pop female singer. She is part of Luv' . In late 1981, she went solo and was successful in her homeland and in the Flanders region of Belgium between 1982 and 1985...
wrote a weekly column. He also produced a TV talent show
Talent show
A talent show is an event where participants perform their talent or talents of acting, singing, dancing, acrobatics, drumming, martial arts, playing an instrument, and other activities to showcase a unique form of talent, sometimes for a reward, trophy or prize...
(Tijd Voor Talent) hosted by his wife and aired on a Dutch local channel "VSM TV". In 2009, he recorded with Piet Souer
Piet Souer
Pieter Cornelis "Piet" Souer is a Dutch music producer, songwriter and arranger. His collaboration with famous pop acts made him gain twenty two gold and platinum records, one Conamus Export Prize and one Outstanding Song Award thanks to his...
a new rendering of a Phil Spector
Phil Spector
Phillip Harvey "Phil" Spector is an American record producer and songwriter, later known for his conviction in the murder of actress Lana Clarkson....
classic hit (Be My Baby
Be My Baby
"Be My Baby" is a 1963 single written by Phil Spector, Jeff Barry, and Ellie Greenwich, performed by The Ronettes and produced by Spector. When released as a single, the song reached #2 on the U.S. Billboard Pop Singles Chart and #4 on the UK's Record Retailer...
) performed by former BZN
BZN
BZN was a Dutch band.-History:BZN started out as a pop-rock band in their native Volendam in 1966, playing early-Bee Gees-like harmony pop...
member Anny Schilder and José
José Hoebee
José Hoebee is a Dutch pop female singer. She is part of Luv' . In late 1981, she went solo and was successful in her homeland and in the Flanders region of Belgium between 1982 and 1985...
.
External links
- http://www.popinstituut.nl/encyclopedie/biografie/will-hoebee.16976.html - information about Hoebee's career on the Nationaal Pop Instituut website (in Dutch)
- http://dutchcharts.nl/showperson.asp?name=Will+Hoebee - Hoebee chart performances in Holland on the DutchCharts.nl portal
- http://www.discogs.com/artist/Will+Hoebee - Will's page on the discogs.com site