Bob Benny
Encyclopedia
Bob Benny was a Belgian
singer and musical theatre
performer, who participated in the Eurovision Song Contest
s of 1959 and 1961.
when he started performing regularly at a café
in Sint-Niklaas. By the early 1950s, he had regular spots on radio, and released his first album, Mijn haart spreekt tot u (My Heart Speaks to You). In 1957, he had his first hit single with "Cindy, Oh Cindy", which reached #2 on the Belgian chart.
" ("Do Love Me"), as the Belgian representative in the fourth Eurovision Song Contest
which took place on 11 March in Cannes
, France
. "Hou toch van mij" received votes from five of the other 10 participating countries and finished in sixth place.
In 1961, Benny was again selected to represent Belgium, with the song "September, gouden roos
" ("September, Golden Rose"), in the sixth Eurovision
, which again was held in Cannes, on 18 March. Although the contest had now expanded to 16 participants, "September, gouden roos" only managed to pick up one point from Luxembourg
, consigning Benny to a joint last-place finish with Austria
's Jimmy Makulis
.
.
In 2001, Benny suffered a stroke
and fell into financial difficulties. A benefit concert
on his behalf took place in Antwerp in April 2003, featuring the music of Richard Rodgers
performed by well-known Flemish artists. In 2006, Benny celebrated his 80th birthday and claimed he was back to full health.
broadcaster, Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroep
(VRT), that Benny had died at a nursing home in Sint-Niklaas.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
singer and musical theatre
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
performer, who participated in the Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
s of 1959 and 1961.
Early career
Benny began his singing career at the end of World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
when he started performing regularly at a café
Café
A café , also spelled cafe, in most countries refers to an establishment which focuses on serving coffee, like an American coffeehouse. In the United States, it may refer to an informal restaurant, offering a range of hot meals and made-to-order sandwiches...
in Sint-Niklaas. By the early 1950s, he had regular spots on radio, and released his first album, Mijn haart spreekt tot u (My Heart Speaks to You). In 1957, he had his first hit single with "Cindy, Oh Cindy", which reached #2 on the Belgian chart.
Eurovision Song Contest
In 1959, Benny was chosen, with the song "Hou toch van mijHou Toch Van Mij
"Hou toch van mij" was the Belgian representative at the Eurovision Song Contest 1959, performed in Dutch by Bob Benny.The song was performed eleventh on the night...
" ("Do Love Me"), as the Belgian representative in the fourth Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest 1959
The Eurovision Song Contest 1959 was the fourth Eurovision Song Contest. It was held in Cannes, following the French victory the previous year....
which took place on 11 March in Cannes
Cannes
Cannes is one of the best-known cities of the French Riviera, a busy tourist destination and host of the annual Cannes Film Festival. It is a Commune of France in the Alpes-Maritimes department....
, 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...
. "Hou toch van mij" received votes from five of the other 10 participating countries and finished in sixth place.
In 1961, Benny was again selected to represent Belgium, with the song "September, gouden roos
September, Gouden Roos
"September, gouden roos" was the Belgian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1961, performed in Dutch by Bob Benny....
" ("September, Golden Rose"), in the sixth Eurovision
Eurovision Song Contest 1961
The Eurovision Song Contest 1961 was the sixth Eurovision Song Contest. A total of sixteen countries took part in the Contest, including the three debuting countries: Finland, Spain, and Yugoslavia. It was held on 18 March 1961 and was the first to take place on a Saturday night, a tradition that...
, which again was held in Cannes, on 18 March. Although the contest had now expanded to 16 participants, "September, gouden roos" only managed to pick up one point from Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
, consigning Benny to a joint last-place finish with Austria
Austria in the Eurovision Song Contest
Austria has appeared frequently at the Eurovision Song Contest. The country has won once, in 1966, with the song "Merci Chérie".In recent years, Austria's entries have tended towards the humorous, in contrast with the dance-pop achieving success. 2003 saw comedian and personality Alf Poier perform...
's Jimmy Makulis
Jimmy Makulis
Dimitrios Makulis was a Greek singer who had a successful career in German-speaking markets in the 1950s and 1960s, and is known for his participation on behalf of Austria in the 1961 Eurovision Song Contest.- Early career :Makulis became a successful singer in his native Greece...
.
Later career
Benny had two further hit singles in 1963, "Waar en wanneer" (#3) and "Alleen door jou" (#5). He became a musical theatre performer and played in many long-running shows in Belgium and GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
In 2001, Benny suffered a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
and fell into financial difficulties. A benefit concert
Benefit concert
A benefit concert or charity concert is a concert, show or gala featuring musicians, comedians, or other performers that is held for a charitable purpose, often directed at a specific and immediate humanitarian crisis. Such events raise both funds and public awareness to address the cause at...
on his behalf took place in Antwerp in April 2003, featuring the music of Richard Rodgers
Richard Rodgers
Richard Charles Rodgers was an American composer of music for more than 900 songs and for 43 Broadway musicals. He also composed music for films and television. He is best known for his songwriting partnerships with the lyricists Lorenz Hart and Oscar Hammerstein II...
performed by well-known Flemish artists. In 2006, Benny celebrated his 80th birthday and claimed he was back to full health.
Death
On 29 March 2011, is was reported by the FlemishFlanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
broadcaster, Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroep
Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroep
The Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroeporganisatie , or VRT, is a publicly-funded broadcaster of radio and television in Flanders ....
(VRT), that Benny had died at a nursing home in Sint-Niklaas.