André Hazes

André Hazes stood out simultaneously as a niche icon and a dominant force in mainstream pop, carving both identities through his unmatched ability to translate “het levenslied”—the Dutch counterpart to American country or French chanson—into the language of the baby-boom era. This genre captured everyday existence in plain, instantly familiar language, frequently laced with melodrama. He first broke through in the 1970s via singles such as “Eenzame Kerst” and “De Vlieger,” sustained broad popularity throughout the following decade, slipped from view for much of the 1990s, then resurfaced in 1999 and remained prominent until his sudden passing in 2004.

Born in Amsterdam’s working-class De Pijp district on June 30, 1951, Hazes developed an early passion for rock & roll and the blues. At age eight he was spotted by Johnny Kraaykamp, Sr., leading to the release of the single “Droomschip,” which went nowhere. Lightning struck again in 1976, when the 26-year-old was discovered by Willy Alberti. By that point Hazes had already cycled through numerous occupations, ranging from factory hand to market trader. Alberti arranged for the Christmas-season single “Eenzame Kerst” to appear in 1976; the full-length studio album Zo Is Het Leven followed in summer 1977 and earned favorable notices along with solid sales. Contractual friction nevertheless sidelined him from recording for several years, during which he worked behind a bar. Producer Tim Griek helped him re-enter the studio in 1980, yielding the single “‘N Vriend” and its matching album. A year later the follow-up Gewoon André ascended to the top of the album charts.

The single “Een Beetje Verliefd” propelled Hazes to superstardom. Throughout the 1980s he amassed more than twenty hit singles, over a dozen successful studio albums, packed concerts, live recordings, and a brief television series of his own. In May 1988 his friend and producer Tim Griek passed away; later that year, following the Dutch national football team’s European Championship victory, Hazes issued the collaborative single “Wij Houden Van Oranje,” which became an enduring sports anthem. He closed the decade with Dit Is Wat Ik Wil, a set of original blues numbers alongside Dutch- and English-language covers that included “The Thrill Is Gone” with Kaz Lux of Brainbox and “What’d I Say” with Herman Brood. Working with a new production team, he maintained a brisk release schedule through the 1990s, issuing at least one studio album annually, yet both artistic momentum and audience enthusiasm showed signs of fatigue even while sales remained reliably healthy.

His demanding regimen of frequent performances and heavy drinking began to exact a physical price. Already never in peak condition, Hazes entered the late 1990s seriously overweight and suffering cardiac issues. A documentary by filmmaker René Appel restored him to national attention; Zij Gelooft In Mij portrayed him candidly as both artist and family man. His next three albums all reached the Top Three, while the compilation 25 Jaar: Het Allerbeste Van hit number one and remained on the charts for more than two years. In 2003 Hazes marked twenty-five years as a performer with a concert at the Amsterdam Arena, later released as the DVD Live in de Amsterdam Arena.

Hearing difficulties forced the cancellation of scheduled shows in May 2004. Four months later, on September 21, he was hospitalized; two days afterward he succumbed to dual strokes and cardiac arrest. On September 27 a public farewell ceremony was held at the Amsterdam Arena, drawing more than 48,000 attendees in person and over six million television viewers across the Netherlands and Belgium. Trijntje Oosterhuis, René Froger, and Guus Meeuwis were among the Dutch artists who spoke or performed, and Hazes’ band delivered a rendition of Gary Moore’s “Still Got the Blues.” Although some found the scale excessive, the event underscored his singular standing: audiences cherished him not only for his music but for his unpretentious authenticity. Two days later the single “Zij Gelooft In Mij” was reissued, becoming his fifth chart-topper after “Eenzame Kerst,” “Diep In Mijn Hart,” “Ik Meen ’t,” and “Wij Houden Van Oranje.”

On the first anniversary of his death, September 23, 2005, Hazes’ ashes were launched skyward and a statue was unveiled at the Albert Cuyp market in Amsterdam, the site of his initial discovery. Posthumous releases continued to chart, among them duets with Gerard Joling and his son André Jr.; the 2007 collection Samen Met Dré reached number one and held the position for three weeks.