Johnny Lion

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Johnny Lion
Johnny Lion and Sophie van Kleef (1966)
Johnny Lion and Sophie van Kleef (1966)
Background information
Birth nameJohn van Leeuwarden
Also known asJohnny Lion
Born(1941-07-04)4 July 1941
The Hague, Netherlands
Died31 January 2019(2019-01-31) (aged 77)
Breda, Netherlands
LabelsPhilips Records, EMI
Associated actsThe Jumping Jewels, Rob de Nijs, Ramses Shaffy

Johnny Lion (born John van Leeuwarden; 4 July 1941 – 31 January 2019), was a Dutch singer, journalist and actor, best known for his hit single "Sophietje".

Musical career[]

Lion started his musical career as singer of Johnny and his Jewels, later named The Jumping Jewels. They had a number-one hitsingle in the Netherlands with Wheels in 1961.[1] He left the band in 1965 to focus on a solo career and subsequently delivered hitsingles Sophietje, Tjingeling and Alleen in Dallas. Sophietje was a Dutch translation of Swedish song Fröken Fräken and dedicated to Lion's then-girlfriend Sophie van Kleef.[2]

He also collaborated with Rob de Nijs in Circus Boltini. Boltini was Lion's second wife Mariska Akkerman's uncle.

Journalism[]

In the 1990s he wrote columns for weekly-magazine .

Acting[]

Lion acted in the 1998 film Siberia and in 2003 he had a minor role in Van God Los.[3]

Personal life[]

He was married twice. Lion was suffering from Alzheimer's disease and lung cancer[4] and died in January 2019.[5]

References[]

  1. ^ nos.nl; Zanger Johnny Lion van 'Sophietje' overleden, (in Dutch)
  2. ^ bndestem.nl; Johnny Lion (1941–2019) was liever anoniem in de Bredase Belcrum dan een popidool, BN De Stem (in Dutch)
  3. ^ NFF Bio – Filmfestival (in Dutch)
  4. ^ omroepbrabant.nl; De zanger van 'Sophietje' is stervende: 'Johnny Lion is aimabel en bescheiden mens, – Omroep Brabant (in Dutch)
  5. ^ telegraaf.nl Archived 2 February 2019 at the Wayback Machine; Johnny Lion (77) overleden] – Telegraaf (in Dutch)

External links[]

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