Jump to content

Heddy Lester

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Heddy Lester
Lester in 2007
Lester in 2007
Background information
Birth nameHeddy Affolter
Born(1950-06-18)18 June 1950
OriginAmsterdam, Netherlands
Died29 January 2023(2023-01-29) (aged 72)
GenresPop, Musical theatre
OccupationSinger

Heddy Lester (born Heddy Affolter, 18 June 1950 – 29 January 2023) was a Dutch singer and actress, best known outside the Netherlands for her participation in the 1977 Eurovision Song Contest.

Early career

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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).[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]

Personal life and death

[edit]

Lester died on 29 January 2023, at the age of 72, of bladder cancer.[5]

Discography

[edit]
Lester in 1977

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

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Muziek Centrum Nederland biography (Dutch) Archived 9 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ "National Finals database – 1977". Archived from the original on 9 March 2012. Retrieved 24 October 2009.
  3. ^ "ESC History – 1977". Archived from the original on 28 July 2011. Retrieved 24 October 2009.
  4. ^ ESC Today 28-1-09
  5. ^ "Mallemolen-zangeres Heddy Lester (72) overleden". De Telegraaf. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
[edit]
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest
1977
Succeeded by