As a young child I played the songs that I
heard on the radio or TV. On my first instrument, the
melodica, I played the songs reasonable good, so my parents
decided that an education in a musical school was a useful
investment. At the age of 7 I started following lessons at
the music academy of Borgerhout, where I learn to play the
clarinet and the saxophone. The organ was also on of my
favorites instruments. A second hand organ was bought, so I
could practice daily at home. After a few years I could play
this instrument very well, and was asked to perform on all
kinds of party’s and festivities. A unique opportunity
to learn some experience. Meanwhile I also played in the
local brass band of Oppuurs, very useful to learn to play
together with other musicians and listen to each other. Sonja
was also a musician in this band, and after a while we learn
to now each other and becomes a couple a few years later.
The
local woman society was looking for an arranged (and cheap)
band for their yearly reunion. So within the local brass band
a few musicians decided to make a group that listen to the
name "The Clementines". In this formation I played the organ
and we were asked often to play in the region for similar
parties
Click on the
photo for a larger view
This formation was transformed later into a
show band and had even concerts in the surrounded countries.
Unfortunaly most of the members had to fulfill there army
duty, which causes the end of the existence of this band
A few months later my picture
was again in the newspapers. Not because of a musical
performance, but because I married Sonja. It was the first
time in history of the village Oppuurs that two musicians
became husband and wife. Naturally we where very proud to be
a musical couple...
Click on the
photo for a larger view
After our marriage we are still very active in the musical business. At a moment we both where members of tree brass bands, which mend tree time in a week going to reverse. When we where asked to be a member of the board of these societies, it became a little too much. Since 2000 Sonja is only member from the magnificent society KHSHE and play there once in the week the saxophone. As for myself, I make music with MISTRAL and take care of things in the keyboard club of Antwerp.
