Heddy Lester (born Heddy Affolter, 18 June 1950 – 29 January 2023) was a Dutch singer and actress of Jewish-Surinamese origin,[1] best known outside the Netherlands for her participation in the 1977 Eurovision Song Contest.
Heddy Lester | |
|---|---|
 Lester in 2007 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Heddy Affolter |
| Born | 18 June 1950 |
| Origin | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Died | 29 January 2023 (aged 72) |
| Genres | Pop, Musical theatre |
| Occupation | Singer |
Early career
editLester 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.[2]
Eurovision Song Contest
editIn 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.[3] 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.[4]
Later career
editAfter 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).[2]
In 2009, Lester, along with several other former Dutch Eurovision contestants, was a special guest on that year's Eurovision selection television programme.[5]
Personal life and death
editLester died on 29 January 2023, at the age of 72, of bladder cancer.[6]
Discography
edit
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- ^ "Een joods gesprek met… Heddy Lester". Joods.NL (in Dutch). 1 August 2006. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
- ^ 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". Archived from the original on 28 July 2011. Retrieved 24 October 2009.
- ^ ESC Today 28-1-09
- ^ "Mallemolen-zangeres Heddy Lester (72) overleden". De Telegraaf. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
External links
edit- 1977 page at Dingadong.nl (Dutch)
- Heddy Lester discography at Discogs
- Heddy Lester at IMDb
