Heintje Simons
Encyclopedia
Hendrik Nikolaas Theodoor Simons, known as Heintje and later on as Hein Simons, (born August 12, 1955, Bleijerheide, a section of Kerkrade
, Netherlands
), is a Dutch
singer and actor
.
Heintje was the son of a coal miner who had to retire because of silicosis, reducing the family to near poverty. The family opened a small shop and Heintje used to sing along with the jukebox. When he was 11, he entered a singing contest in the next town. He beat out 30 competitors to win the contest. His manager Addy Kleijngeld, heard about him and went to audition him at his home. After hearing only a few notes, he took him on as a client. On becoming wealthy, Heintje moved his family back to his father's birthplace Neu Moresnet, Belgium, where he still lives to this day.
He became particularly famous as a child singer
, with his hit
song
"Mama" in 1967, and as a child actor
, with his appearances in numerous German film
s in the 1960s and 1970s (some of these were dubbed into English
and also Afrikaans
). He also enjoyed success with English songs, notably of which is "I'm Your Little Boy". In 1971, The Los Angeles Times described him as, "the hottest property in Europe." The same article quoted the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
as saying of him, "No one is bigger in German show business."
His 1967 recording
of "Mama" sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc
. The following year his debut album
Heintje went on to sell over two million copies, resulting in a platinum disc award. Other discs
selling over a million units included "Du sollst nicht weinen", "Heidschi bumbeidschi" and the seasonal album, Weihnachten mit Heintje. His sales over 1968 and 1969 alone, totalled over 10 million.
At the age of 20 he also recorded in Afrikaans: the single "Jou Hart Is Weer Myne" (reaching number 4 on the South African Official Chart in 1975), and was so popular there that he performed in concert in South Africa
in the mid 1970s. Heintje continued to sing as an adult, billed as 'Hein Simons' and is particularly popular in German speaking countries. More than 40 million Heintje records have been sold worldwide. He currently lives in Neu-Moresnet, a part of the city of Kelmis
(La Calamine in French), in the Belgian
province of Liège
. He is married and has three children.
Kerkrade
Kerkrade is a town and a municipality in the southeastern Netherlands.It is the western half of the divided region and de facto city, taken together with the eastern half, the German town of Herzogenrath...
, 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...
), is a Dutch
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...
singer and actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
.
Heintje was the son of a coal miner who had to retire because of silicosis, reducing the family to near poverty. The family opened a small shop and Heintje used to sing along with the jukebox. When he was 11, he entered a singing contest in the next town. He beat out 30 competitors to win the contest. His manager Addy Kleijngeld, heard about him and went to audition him at his home. After hearing only a few notes, he took him on as a client. On becoming wealthy, Heintje moved his family back to his father's birthplace Neu Moresnet, Belgium, where he still lives to this day.
He became particularly famous as a child singer
Child singer
A child singer is a child who has a career as a singer. Child singers and people who have been child singers include:* From age 2 Judy Garland* From age 4 Donny Osmond* From age 5 Michael Jackson...
, with his hit
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
"Mama" in 1967, and as a child actor
Child actor
The term child actor or child actress is generally applied to a child acting in motion pictures or television, but also to an adult who began his or her acting career as a child; to avoid confusion, the latter is also called a former child actor...
, with his appearances in numerous German film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
s in the 1960s and 1970s (some of these were dubbed into English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and also Afrikaans
Afrikaans
Afrikaans is a West Germanic language, spoken natively in South Africa and Namibia. It is a daughter language of Dutch, originating in its 17th century dialects, collectively referred to as Cape Dutch .Afrikaans is a daughter language of Dutch; see , , , , , .Afrikaans was historically called Cape...
). He also enjoyed success with English songs, notably of which is "I'm Your Little Boy". In 1971, The Los Angeles Times described him as, "the hottest property in Europe." The same article quoted the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung , short F.A.Z., also known as the FAZ, is a national German newspaper, founded in 1949. It is published daily in Frankfurt am Main. The Sunday edition is the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung .F.A.Z...
as saying of him, "No one is bigger in German show business."
His 1967 recording
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
of "Mama" sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
. The following year his debut album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
Heintje went on to sell over two million copies, resulting in a platinum disc award. Other discs
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
selling over a million units included "Du sollst nicht weinen", "Heidschi bumbeidschi" and the seasonal album, Weihnachten mit Heintje. His sales over 1968 and 1969 alone, totalled over 10 million.
At the age of 20 he also recorded in Afrikaans: the single "Jou Hart Is Weer Myne" (reaching number 4 on the South African Official Chart in 1975), and was so popular there that he performed in concert in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
in the mid 1970s. Heintje continued to sing as an adult, billed as 'Hein Simons' and is particularly popular in German speaking countries. More than 40 million Heintje records have been sold worldwide. He currently lives in Neu-Moresnet, a part of the city of Kelmis
Kelmis
Kelmis is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Liège. On January 1, 2006, Kelmis had a total population of 10,396...
(La Calamine in French), in the Belgian
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...
province of Liège
Liège (province)
Liège is the easternmost province of Belgium and belongs to the Walloon Region. It is an area of French and German ethnicity. It borders on the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, and in Belgium the provinces of Luxembourg, Namur, Walloon Brabant , and those of Flemish Brabant and Limburg . Its...
. He is married and has three children.
Songs
- 1967 "Mama"
- 1967 "Oma so lieb"
- 1968 "Du sollst nicht weinen"
- 1968 "Es kann nicht immer nur die Sonne scheinen"
- 1968 "Heidschi Bumbeidschi"
- 1968 "Ich bau' Dir ein Schloss"
- 1969 "Geh' Deinen Weg"
- 1969 "Liebe Sonne, lach doch wieder"
- 1969 "Ich sing' ein Lied für Dich"
- 1970 "Schön sind die Märchen vergangener Zeit"
- 1970 "Deine Tränen sind auch meine"
- 1971 "Schneeglöckchen im Februar"
- 1978 "Und das alles nur weil wir uns lieben"
- 1992 "Ein Mutterherz Soll Niemals Weinen"
- 1994 "Die Heimat darfst Du nie vergessen"
- 1995 "Mama Techno-Version"
- 1998 "Komm, tanz noch mal ganz eng mit mir"
- 2002 "So Wie Ein Stern"
- 2004 "Frauen sind was wunderbares"
Films
- 1968 Zum Teufel mit der Penne
- 1969 Heintje – ein Herz geht auf Reisen
- 1969 Hurra, die Schule brennt
- 1970 Heintje – einmal wird die Sonne wieder scheinen
- 1970 Heintje – mein bester Freund
- 1971 Morgen fällt die Schule aus
Albums
- 1967 Heintje
- 1968 Weihnachten mit Heintje
- 1969 Ich sing ein Lied für dich
- 1969 Dein schönster Tag
- 1970 Herzlichst Heintje
- 1971 Wenn wir alle Sonntagskinder wär'n
- 1972 Fröhliche Weihnacht überall
- 1973 Ich denk an dich
- 1974 Junger Mann mit 19
- 1978 Ich habe Freunde
- 1989 Herzensmelodie
- 1992 Ich hab' so lange gesucht nach dir
- 1994 Die Heimat darfst Du nie vergessen
- 1996 Mein zweites Leben
- 1998 Ich schenk' Dir meine Liebe
- 1999 Noch einmal mit Gefühl
- 2001 Heute und bisschen gestern – Jubiläumsalbum
- 2002 Rück ein Stückchen näher
- 2003 Von Herz zu Herz by Heintje|Von Herz zu Herz
- 2004 Frauen sind was wunderbares
- 2005 Ich sag' Danke
- 2006 Männer sind einfach zu gut