Bob Benny

Belgian singer and stage performer

Bob Benny
Background information
Birth nameEmilius Wagemans
Born(1926-05-18)18 May 1926
OriginSint-Niklaas, Belgium
Died29 March 2011(2011-03-29) (aged 84)
GenresPop, musical theatre
Occupation(s)Singer
Musical artist

Bob Benny (18 May 1926 – 29 March 2011), born Emilius Wagemans, was a Belgian singer and musical theatre performer, who participated in the Eurovision Song Contests of 1959 and 1961.

Early career

Benny began his singing career at the end of World War II 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 No. 2 on the Belgian chart.

Eurovision Song Contest

In 1959, Benny was chosen, with the song "Hou toch van mij" ("Do Love Me"), as the Belgian representative in the fourth Eurovision Song Contest which took place on 11 March in Cannes, France.[1] Hou toch van mij received votes from five of the other 10 participating countries and finished in sixth place.[2]

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.[3] 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.[4]

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 Germany.

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.[5]

Private life

In 2001, Benny came out as homosexual.[6]

Death

On 29 March 2011 the Flemish broadcaster Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroep (VRT) reported that Benny had died in a nursing home in Sint-Niklaas.[6]

References

  1. ^ Eurovision Song Contest National Finals database – 1959
  2. ^ "Hou toch van mij" at diggiloo.net
  3. ^ Eurovision Song Contest National Finals database – 1961
  4. ^ "September, gouden roos" at diggiloo.net
  5. ^ Biography Archived 3 March 2010 at the Wayback Machine (in Dutch)
  6. ^ a b "deredactie.be: Vlaamse zanger Bob Benny is overleden". Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroep. 29 March 2011. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
Preceded by
Fud Leclerc
with "Ma petite chatte"
 Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest
1959 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest
1961 		Succeeded by
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  • "Augustin"
  • "Een beetje"
  • "Heute Abend wollen wir tanzen geh'n"
  • "Hou toch van mij"
  • "Irgendwoher"
  • "Der K und K Kalypso aus Wien"
  • "Oui, oui, oui, oui"
  • "Mon ami Pierrot"
  • "Piove (Ciao, ciao bambina)"
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  • "Nous aurons demain"
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  • "Printemps, avril carillonne"
  • "Sehnsucht"
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  • "1 Life"
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  • "Als het weer lente is"
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  • "Baby, Baby"
  • "Because of You"
  • "Before the Party's Over"
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  • "Goeiemorgen, morgen"
  • "Le Grand soir"
  • "Hey Nana"
  • "Hou toch van mij"
  • "Iemand als jij"
  • "Ik heb zorgen"
  • "J'aime la vie"
  • "Je t'adore"
  • "Jennifer Jennings"
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  • "Laat me nu gaan"
  • "Laissez briller le soleil"
  • "Liefde is een kaartspel"
  • "Like the Wind"
  • "Love Kills"
  • "Love Power"
  • "Ma petite chatte"
  • "Macédomienne"
  • "A Matter of Time"
  • "Me and My Guitar"
  • "Messieurs les noyés de la Seine"
  • "A Million in One, Two, Three"
  • "Miss You"
  • "Mon amour pour toi"
  • "Mother"
  • "Nous, on veut des violons"
  • "O Julissi"
  • "Un peu de poivre, un peu de sel"
  • "Le Plus beau jour de ma vie"
  • "Près de ma rivière"
  • "Quand tu reviendras"
  • "Release Me"
  • "Rendez-vous"
  • "Rhythm Inside"
  • "Samson"
  • "Sanomi"
  • "September, gouden roos"
  • "Si tu aimes ma musique"
  • "Sister"
  • "Soldiers of Love"
  • "Straatdeuntje"
  • "Ton nom"
  • "Viens l'oublier"
  • "La Voix est libre"
  • "Waarom?"
  • "Wake Up"
  • "What's the Pressure"
  • "With Love Baby"
  • "Would You?"
  • "The Wrong Place"
  • Note: Entries scored out signify where Belgium did not compete
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