Robert Long (singer)
Encyclopedia
Robert Long, was a Dutch
singer and television presenter.
politics. From his first Dutch album in 1974, Vroeger of Later (Sooner or Later) more than half a million records were sold, and continued a best seller for 118 consecutive weeks. During this period the album reached the top of the charts three times. Also his second album Levenslang (Life long) scored well with sales of more than 200,000. In 1977 he was awarded the first of a total of six Edison Music Awards. During the 80's he scored a top 10 hit in the Netherlands with his song "Iedereen doet 't" (Everybody does it). Subsequent albums also sold well.
In the late 80s Long appeared on television presenting a show called Mijn geheim (My secret). Despite this new career he received some negative reactions, although the show itself was successful. Soon afterwards he switched to another television network, presenting Tien voor taal (An A for spelling).
In 1986 Long began writing columns for the Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad
. A selection of these columns was released in a book in 1990 using the title Vandaag geen nieuws (No news today). During this period he presented the television show Fantastico. Together with Dimitri Frenkel Frank Long composed the Dutch version of the musical Chekhov, which was a big success in the Netherlands, but the German version in which Long also participated, was less popular.
In 1998 a revealing book containing letters was released. Letters about life, death, love, sex, work and colleagues were made public by him and Cees van der Pluijm using the title Beste Robert, Waarde Cees.
On 8 September 2005 Long suffered a myocardial infarction
and was treated with angioplasty
. Later that year, on 6 December 2005 Long married his Belgian
boyfriend and manager Kristof Rutsaert, 28 years his junior. The marriage ceremony was performed by fellow singer and actor Gerard Cox
, a close friend of Long. On 4 December 2006 it was announced he was suffering from a terminal illness
as he was admitted to hospital with cancer
. Robert Long died on 13 December 2006 at 11 pm in a hospital in Antwerpen at the age of 63.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
singer and television presenter.
Biography
Under the stage name "Bob Revel" he founded the band The Yelping Jackals in 1963. In 1967 he moved to another band, called Unit Gloria (at that time using the name Gloria). In 1971 he began to sing solo, under the name "Robert Long", a reference to his height. Only a year later he left Unit Gloria to concentrate on his solo career. He started singing in English, but not long after that he also began to sing self-written songs in Dutch. His Dutch songs were critical of Dutch society and of AmericanUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politics. From his first Dutch album in 1974, Vroeger of Later (Sooner or Later) more than half a million records were sold, and continued a best seller for 118 consecutive weeks. During this period the album reached the top of the charts three times. Also his second album Levenslang (Life long) scored well with sales of more than 200,000. In 1977 he was awarded the first of a total of six Edison Music Awards. During the 80's he scored a top 10 hit in the Netherlands with his song "Iedereen doet 't" (Everybody does it). Subsequent albums also sold well.
In the late 80s Long appeared on television presenting a show called Mijn geheim (My secret). Despite this new career he received some negative reactions, although the show itself was successful. Soon afterwards he switched to another television network, presenting Tien voor taal (An A for spelling).
In 1986 Long began writing columns for the Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad
Algemeen Dagblad
The Algemeen Dagblad is a Dutch newspaper. Founded in Rotterdam in 1946, it currently has a daily circulation of 315,000. The newspaper is owned by AD NieuwsMedia, a joint venture between Wegener and PCM Uitgevers....
. A selection of these columns was released in a book in 1990 using the title Vandaag geen nieuws (No news today). During this period he presented the television show Fantastico. Together with Dimitri Frenkel Frank Long composed the Dutch version of the musical Chekhov, which was a big success in the Netherlands, but the German version in which Long also participated, was less popular.
In 1998 a revealing book containing letters was released. Letters about life, death, love, sex, work and colleagues were made public by him and Cees van der Pluijm using the title Beste Robert, Waarde Cees.
On 8 September 2005 Long suffered a myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
and was treated with angioplasty
Angioplasty
Angioplasty is the technique of mechanically widening a narrowed or obstructed blood vessel, the latter typically being a result of atherosclerosis. An empty and collapsed balloon on a guide wire, known as a balloon catheter, is passed into the narrowed locations and then inflated to a fixed size...
. Later that year, on 6 December 2005 Long married his Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
boyfriend and manager Kristof Rutsaert, 28 years his junior. The marriage ceremony was performed by fellow singer and actor Gerard Cox
Gerard Cox
Gerard Cox is a Dutch singer, cabaret artist and actor.-Albums:*1966: Gerard Cox*1971: Wie Wijst Gerard Cox De Weg...?*1972: Vrijblijvend...*1973: De Beste Van Gerard Cox...
, a close friend of Long. On 4 December 2006 it was announced he was suffering from a terminal illness
Terminal illness
Terminal illness is a medical term popularized in the 20th century to describe a disease that cannot be cured or adequately treated and that is reasonably expected to result in the death of the patient within a short period of time. This term is more commonly used for progressive diseases such as...
as he was admitted to hospital with cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
. Robert Long died on 13 December 2006 at 11 pm in a hospital in Antwerpen at the age of 63.
Albums
- 1974 Vroeger of later
- 1975-1976 Scherts, satire, songs & ander snoepgoed (play from a theatre show with Robert Long, Jenny AreanJenny AreanJenny Arean is a Dutch singer, actress and comedian. She is known for her contralto voice.-Life and career:...
, Jerôme Reehuis and Dimitri Frenkel Frank) - 1977 Levenslang
- 1980 Homo Sapiens
- 1984 Dag kleine jongen
- 1984 Liefste, mijn liefste
- 1986 'Achter de horizon
- 1988 Hartstocht
- 1988 Goud op zilver
- 1989 Liedjes uit de krullentijd
- 1990 Het onherroepelijke FANTASTICO album
- 1992 Voor mijn vrienden
- 1993 Het allerbeste van (subtitle: 50 jaar goed ter been en nog geen lintje)
- 1994 In die dagen
- 1994 Uit liefde en respect
- 1996 Nu
- 1997 'Uit liefde en respect voor Gershwin
- 1999 Lang genoeg jong
- 2000 Vanavond tussen 8 en 11 LIVE
- 2002 Brand!
- 2006 'n Duivels Genoegen
Singles
- 1973 Let us try
- 1973 I believe in love
- 1984 Heeft een kind een toekomst
- 1986 Iedereen doet 't
- 1987 Geef ons vrede
- 1988 Ai lof joe so
- 1988 Vanmorgen vloog ze nog
Theatre
- 1974-1975 Robert Long (with Cobi Schreijer).
- 1975 Scherts, satire, songs en ander snoepgoed (with Jenny Arean).
- 1995-1997 Nu
- 2002 Brand