He's the 70th's equivalent of "Heintje" Simons.
Heintje, the cherished Dutch singer, known as Hein Simons in his early years, celebrates his 70th birthday today. Born and raised in Kerkrade, a town on the German border, Heintje's career began in his parents' bar, where he captivated guests with his bell-clear soprano voice and cheeky smile.
At the tender age of 12, Heintje shot to fame after singing "Mama" on the German show "Der Goldene Schuß" in 1967. Since then, he has released several successful CDs, including "Heintje und ich." His tours have taken him as far as China, and he continues to have success in his career, although not as great as in his childhood.
Despite his age, Heintje still lives with his family on an estate with many horses in the tri-border area. His two sons and daughter also live nearby. However, Heintje's hearing has deteriorated, causing him to consider retiring from singing. He can hear with hearing aids, but he is missing the mid-tones, which is problematic for him on stage or in the studio.
Heintje's father previously worked in the coal mines of Limburg but had to stop due to a lung disease. Only his mother is no longer with him, she passed away a few years ago. In recent years, Heintje has been using technology to create a duet with the young Heintje on "Heintje und ich."
Heintje attributes his success to luck and enjoys looking back with humility and gratitude. Despite his hearing issues, Heintje has cancelled all concerts and will only perform again when his hearing improves to 100%. At the end of August, he invites friends and fans to a big farm party, where he might sing again. However, Heintje will celebrate his 70th birthday with his family - "with coffee and cake", but no grand party.
Despite the challenges he faces, Heintje remains a beloved figure in Dutch music, and his fans eagerly await his return to the stage when his hearing improves.
As Heintje turns 70, his fans eagerly await his return to the stage when his hearing improves, hoping for a chance to witness the famous Dutch singer once more in the realm of pop-culture and entertainment. Amidst the backdrop of Dutch music history, his success story and connection with his fans mark him as a cherished celebrity figure in the world of music.
