Heddy Lester
Heddy Lester | |
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 Heddy Lester in 2007 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Heddy Affolter |
| Born | 18 June 1950 |
| Origin | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Genres | Pop, Musical theatre |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
Heddy Lester (born Heddy Affolter, 18 June 1950) is a Dutch singer and actress, 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.[1]
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.[2] 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.[3]
Later career[]
Since her Eurovision appearance, Lester has worked steadily in a variety of both musical and dramatic stage roles, including works by Lorca (Blood wedding), Euripides (The Trojan Women) and Joshua Sobol (Ghetto).[1]
In 2009, Lester, along with several other former Dutch Eurovision contestants, was a special guest on that year's Eurovision selection television programme.[4]
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[]
- ^ Jump up to: 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
- ^ ESC Today 28-1-09
External links[]
show Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest |
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Heddy Lester. |
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- 1950 births
- Living people
- Dutch actresses
- Eurovision Song Contest entrants for the Netherlands
- Dutch female singers
- Eurovision Song Contest entrants of 1977
- Musicians from Amsterdam
- Ariola Records artists
- Nationaal Songfestival contestants