Heddy Lester
Heddy Lester | |
|---|---|
 Lester in 2007 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Heddy Affolter |
| Born | 18 June 1950 |
| Origin | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Died | 29 January 2023 (aged 72) |
| Genres | Pop, Musical theatre |
| Occupation | Singer |
Heddy Lester (born Heddy Affolter, 18 June 1950 – 29 January 2023) was a Dutch singer and actress of Jewish-Surinamese origin,[1] best known outside the Netherlands for her participation in the 1977 Eurovision Song Contest.
Early career
Lester was born in Amsterdam. Her professional career started with Gert Balke as the duo April Shower, who had a minor hit with "Railroad Song" in 1971. Her father ran a restaurant in Amsterdam, where she met singer Ramses Shaffy, with whom she started touring. Lester launched her solo career in 1974.[2]
Eurovision Song Contest
In 1977, Lester's song "De mallemolen" ("The Merry-Go-Round"), with music written by her brother Frank, was chosen by a celebrity panel as the winner in the Dutch Eurovision selection.[3] Lester went forward to take part in the 22nd Eurovision Song Contest, held in London on 7 May. Although "De mallemolen" had been considered a strong contender prior to the contest, it could only manage a disappointing 12th-place finish of 18 entries.[4]
Later career
After her Eurovision appearance, Lester worked in a variety of both musical and dramatic stage roles, including works by Lorca (Blood wedding), Euripides (The Trojan Women) and Joshua Sobol (Ghetto).[2]
In 2009, Lester, along with several other former Dutch Eurovision contestants, was a special guest on that year's Eurovision selection television programme.[5]
Personal life and death
Lester died on 29 January 2023, at the age of 72, of bladder cancer.[6]
Discography
Singles
April Shower
- 1971: "Mama Look Upon Me"
- 1971: "Railroad Song" (#30)
- 1972: "It's So Funny"
- 1973: "Danny's Song"
Solo
- 1974: "Friend of Mine"
- 1977: "De mallemolen" (#28)
- 1977: "Words Keep Turning"
- 1978: "Samen"
Album
- 1977: Deel van m'n bestaan
References
- ^ "Een joods gesprek met… Heddy Lester". Joods.NL (in Dutch). 1 August 2006. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
- ^ a b Muziek Centrum Nederland biography (Dutch) Archived 9 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "National Finals database – 1977". Archived from the original on 9 March 2012. Retrieved 24 October 2009.
- ^ "ESC History – 1977". Archived from the original on 28 July 2011. Retrieved 24 October 2009.
- ^ ESC Today 28-1-09
- ^ "Mallemolen-zangeres Heddy Lester (72) overleden". De Telegraaf. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
External links
- 1977 page at Dingadong.nl (Dutch)
- Heddy Lester discography at Discogs
- Heddy Lester at IMDb
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
- 1950 births
- 2023 deaths
- 20th-century Dutch actresses
- Eurovision Song Contest entrants for the Netherlands
- 20th-century Dutch women singers
- Eurovision Song Contest entrants of 1977
- Singers from Amsterdam
- Ariola Records artists
- Nationaal Songfestival contestants
- Dutch stage actresses
- Actresses from Amsterdam
- Dutch people of Surinamese descent
- Dutch Jews
- Jewish Eurovision Song Contest entrants