Will Tura
Encyclopedia
Will Tura is the stage name of Arthur Achiel Albert, Knight
Blanckaert, a Belgian
artist famous in Flanders
and the Netherlands
. Tura is a singer, musician (he plays the piano
, guitar
, drum
s, accordion
and harmonica
), composer
and songwriter
. He is married to Jenny Swinnen, with whom he has a son David (born 16 October 1974) and a daughter Sandy Tura (born 21 November 1975).
and Nat King Cole
. Tura's first producer was Jacques Kluger, and later his son Jean Kluger
.
Will Tura's first hit was Eenzaam zonder jou (Eng
, Lonely without you) in 1963, for which he wrote the melody, and Ke Riema the text. In a newspaper survey, the song got elected the biggest hit in Flanders ever, and it has a place in the Eregallerij (an honorary gallery of the Flemish song, an initiative of Belgian copyright collective
SABAM and radio station Radio 2) since the first edition in 2000.
Many hits followed in various musical styles, including rock 'n roll, gospel
, country
and rap (Moa vent toch, from 1992, in the West Flemish
dialect). In 1984 he made a tribute album
to Elvis Presley
, together with Elvis' band. In 1992 he also released his first Tura in Symfonie, performing with a symphonic orchestra.
In 1987 Will records the album Ouvertura, together with the London Symphony Orchestra
and Robert Groslot. In 2002 one of Tura's dreams came true, recording an album entitled De Mooiste Droom (Eng, the most beautiful dream) with the London Philharmonic Orchestra
.
In 1995 Will was made cultural ambassador of Flanders.
In 1988 Will had a car accident, and the song Mooi, 't leven is mooi (Eng, Beautiful, life is beautiful) about it becomes a megahit in Flanders, and becomes the most frequently played song of 1989 according to SABAM, with Clouseau's Anne in second place.
In 1990, various rock 'n roll artists from Flanders created Turalura, a tribute album for the artist. In 2005, Tura's 65th birthday was celebrated elaborately in the Flemish media, along with the release of the cd Viva Tura.
In 1993 Tura sang Ik mis je zo (Eng, I miss you so) and Hoop doet leven (Eng, Hope gives life) at the ceremony for the deceased King Baudouin of Belgium. In 2001 King Albert II of Belgium
knight
ed him, after being made an Officer in the Order of the Crown (Belgium)
. At the engagement party of Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde
in 1999 gives a mini-recital.
Ridder (title)
Ridder is a noble title in the Netherlands and Belgium. The collective term for its holders in a certain locality is the Ridderschap . In the Netherlands and Belgium no female equivalent exists...
Blanckaert, a 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...
artist famous in Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
and the Netherlands
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...
. Tura is a singer, musician (he plays the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, drum
Drum
The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
s, accordion
Accordion
The accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
and harmonica
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
), composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
. He is married to Jenny Swinnen, with whom he has a son David (born 16 October 1974) and a daughter Sandy Tura (born 21 November 1975).
Biography
Tura started singing when he was only nine years old, covering Gilbert BécaudGilbert Bécaud
Gilbert Bécaud was a French singer, composer and actor, known as "Monsieur 100,000 Volts" for his energetic performances. His best-known hits are "Nathalie" and "Et Maintenant", a 1961 release that became an English language hit as "What Now My Love"...
and Nat King Cole
Nat King Cole
Nathaniel Adams Coles , known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American musician who first came to prominence as a leading jazz pianist. Although an accomplished pianist, he owes most of his popular musical fame to his soft baritone voice, which he used to perform in big band and jazz genres...
. Tura's first producer was Jacques Kluger, and later his son Jean Kluger
Jean Kluger
Jean Kluger is a Belgian artist, producer, songwriter and musical composer.His career started in 1957, working for his father's company, World Music. He wrote widely for the French and German pop music markets, including songs for Dalida, Will Tura, Ringo and Petula Clark...
.
Will Tura's first hit was Eenzaam zonder jou (Eng
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, Lonely without you) in 1963, for which he wrote the melody, and Ke Riema the text. In a newspaper survey, the song got elected the biggest hit in Flanders ever, and it has a place in the Eregallerij (an honorary gallery of the Flemish song, an initiative of Belgian copyright collective
Copyright collective
A copyright collective is a body created by copyright law or private agreement which engages in collective rights management...
SABAM and radio station Radio 2) since the first edition in 2000.
Many hits followed in various musical styles, including rock 'n roll, gospel
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
, country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
and rap (Moa vent toch, from 1992, in the West Flemish
West Flemish
West Flemish , , , Fransch vlaemsch in French Flemish) is a group of dialects or regional language related to Dutch spoken in parts of the Netherlands, Belgium, and France....
dialect). In 1984 he made a tribute album
Tribute album
A tribute album is a recorded collection of cover versions of songs or instrumental compositions. Its concept may be either various artists making a tribute to a single artist, a single artist making a tribute to various artists, or a single artist making a tribute to another single artist.There...
to Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
, together with Elvis' band. In 1992 he also released his first Tura in Symfonie, performing with a symphonic orchestra.
In 1987 Will records the album Ouvertura, together with the London Symphony Orchestra
London Symphony Orchestra
The London Symphony Orchestra is a major orchestra of the United Kingdom, as well as one of the best-known orchestras in the world. Since 1982, the LSO has been based in London's Barbican Centre.-History:...
and Robert Groslot. In 2002 one of Tura's dreams came true, recording an album entitled De Mooiste Droom (Eng, the most beautiful dream) with the London Philharmonic Orchestra
London Philharmonic Orchestra
The London Philharmonic Orchestra , based in London, is one of the major orchestras of the United Kingdom, and is based in the Royal Festival Hall. In addition, the LPO is the main resident orchestra of the Glyndebourne Festival Opera...
.
In 1995 Will was made cultural ambassador of Flanders.
In 1988 Will had a car accident, and the song Mooi, 't leven is mooi (Eng, Beautiful, life is beautiful) about it becomes a megahit in Flanders, and becomes the most frequently played song of 1989 according to SABAM, with Clouseau's Anne in second place.
In 1990, various rock 'n roll artists from Flanders created Turalura, a tribute album for the artist. In 2005, Tura's 65th birthday was celebrated elaborately in the Flemish media, along with the release of the cd Viva Tura.
In 1993 Tura sang Ik mis je zo (Eng, I miss you so) and Hoop doet leven (Eng, Hope gives life) at the ceremony for the deceased King Baudouin of Belgium. In 2001 King Albert II of Belgium
Albert II of Belgium
Albert II is the current reigning King of the Belgians, a constitutional monarch. He is a member of the royal house "of Belgium"; formerly this house was named Saxe-Coburg-Gotha...
knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
ed him, after being made an Officer in the Order of the Crown (Belgium)
Order of the Crown (Belgium)
The Order of the Crown is an Order of Belgium which was created on 15 October 1897 by King Leopold II in his capacity as ruler of the Congo Free State. The order was first intended to recognize heroic deeds and distinguished service achieved from service in the Congo Free State - many of which acts...
. At the engagement party of Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde
Princess Mathilde, Duchess of Brabant
Princess Mathilde, Duchess of Brabant, DHS , is the wife of the heir apparent to the Belgian throne, Prince Philippe, Duke of Brabant...
in 1999 gives a mini-recital.
Trivia
- Tura has a cameoCameo appearanceA cameo role or cameo appearance is a brief appearance of a known person in a work of the performing arts, such as plays, films, video games and television...
in the Suske en WiskeSpike and SuzySpike and Suzy, the British title for Suske en Wiske in Dutch, is a comics series created by the Belgian comics author Willy Vandersteen. The strip is known as Bob et Bobette in French and Willy and Wanda in the U.S. It was first published in De Nieuwe Standaard in 1945 and soon became popular...
album De Krimson Crisis, where he is one of the famous Belgians fighting Krimson. - Veurne has only three honorary citizens: Will Tura, Paul DelvauxPaul DelvauxPaul Delvaux was a Belgian painter, associated with Surrealism, famous for his paintings of female nudes.-Biography:...
and King Albert I of BelgiumAlbert I of BelgiumAlbert I reigned as King of the Belgians from 1909 until 1934.-Early life:Born Albert Léopold Clément Marie Meinrad in Brussels, he was the fifth child and second son of Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders, and his wife, Princess Marie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen...
. - After his car accident in 1988, the prognosis was that he could never jog again with his broken kneecap. However, in 2006 he still runs 5 to 8 kilometres daily.
1960s
- Will Tura (1963)
- Will Tura nr 01 – Eerste Hits (1964)
- Will Tura (1964)
- Will Tura nr 02 (1965)
- Tura Hits (1965)
- At the piano - Will Tura plays Will Tura (1966)
- Uit het hart (1966)
- Will Tura nr 03 (1966)
- Will Tura nr 04 (1967)
- Tura story (1968)
- Will Tura nr 05 (1968)
- Will Tura nr 06 – Viva el amor (1968)
- Will Tura's eerste hits (1969)
- Will Tura nr 07 (1969)
1970s
- Will Tura nr 08 - Linda (1970)
- Will Tura nr 09 (1971)
- Will Tura nr 10 (1972)
- Witte Kerstmis (1973)
- Will Tura nr 11 (1973)
- This is Will Tura (1973)
- Portrait of Will Tura (1973)
- Will Tura nr 12 (1974)
- De wereldreis van kleine Jan (1974)
- Liefdeverdriet (1970)
- Will Tura : his life, his music (1975)
- Will Tura nr 13 (1975)
- Avond met Will Tura (1975)
- Lach ermee (1975)
- Will Tura Live (1976)
- Will Tura nr 14 (1976)
- Will Tura (1976)
- Will Tura in Nashville (1976)
- Kalender (1976)
- International (1976)
- Gouden plaat van Will Tura (1976)
- Will Tura (quality sound series) (1977)
- Will Tura nr 15 (1977)
- Vlaanderen mijn land (1977)
- 20 jaar : 1957-1977 (1977)
- Will Tura nr 16 (1978)
- Will Tura (quality sound series) (1978)
- Hello moeders (1978)
- Vrolijk Kerstfeest, Gelukkig Nieuwjaar (1978)
- Liefdesliedjes Will Tura & Marva (1979)
- Stepping out (1979)
- The golden best of Will Tura (1979)
- Non stop dansen en zingen met Will Tura (1979)
- Will Tura (picturedisc) (1979)
- Hits a gogo (1979)
- In mijn caravan (1979)
1980s
- I love you (1980)
- Favoriete album vol 1 (1980)
- Laatste cowboy (1980)
- Mijn eerste successen (case with 3 lp’s) (1980)
- Mijn eerste successen vol 2 (case with 3 lp’s) (1980)
- Liedjes die ik graag gezongen had (1955-1960) (1980)
- Liefdeverdriet (1980)
- Tura 81 (1981)
- Liedjes die ik graag gezongen had (1960-1965) (1981)
- Favorieten album vol 2 (1981)
- Toppers van Tura 1 (1982)
- Toppers van Tura 2 (1982)
- 25 jaar Tura – 22 allergrootste successen (1982)
- Liefdeverdriet vol 1 (1982)
- Tura 82 (1982)
- Mijn grootste successen (1983)
- Tura 83 (1983)
- Seventies collectie (1984)
- Will Tura 1957-1964 (1984)
- Will Tura zingt Elvis Presley (1984)
- Tura 84 (1984)
- Waar een Will is,… (1985)
- Tura 85 – in concert (1985)
- Tura 87 (1986)
- Will Tura Hitrevue (1986)
- 12 Tura toppers (1986)
- Ik zing alleen voor jou (1987)
- Een uur met Tura (1987)
- Ouvertura – Robert Groslot (1987)
- Tura 2000 (1988)
- Vlaanderen (1988)
- De sixties collectie (1989)
- De seventies collectie (1989)
- Tura vandaag (1989)
1990s
- 16 voor Tura (1990)
- Live concert Veurne (1990)
- Turalura, rockers zingen Tura (1990)
- 1991 – karaoke jij zingt de hits van Tura (1991)
- Mijn allereerste successen (1991)
- Nieuwe wegen (1991)
- Rock 'n roll in mijn hart (1991)
- Tura in symfonie I (1992)
- Moa ven toch (1992)
- Hoop doet leven (1993)
- Grootste hits 1973-1993 (1993)
- Vrolijkste liedjes 1973-1993 (1994)
- 20 jaar tura (3 cd’s) (1994)
- Tura in symfonie II (1994)
- Herinneringen 1973-1993 (1994)
- Double gold (2 cd’s) (1994)
- Bloed, zweet & tranen (1995)
- Tura in studio (1995)
- Tura in symfonie III (1996)
- Europa (1996)
- Tura in harmonie (concertband voor Vlaanderen) (1997)
- Puur Tura (1997)
- 40 jaar – 60’s-70’s-80’s-90’s (1997)
- Tura in Vorst (2 cd’s) (1998)
- Alleen gaan & de mooiste slows '87-'97 (1998)
- Tura gospel & kerst (1999)
2000s
- Tura gospel (2000)
- ECI Premium (ware liefde) (2000)
- Ware liefde (2000)
- Tura collectie 1 (2001)
- Tura collectie 2 (2001)
- Tura collectie 3 (2001)
- Tura collectie 4 (2001)
- Tura collectie 5 (2001)
- Tura collectie 6 (2001)
- Terugblik 1 (2001)
- Terugblik 2 (2001)
- Terugblik 3 (2001)
- Terugblik 4 (2001)
- Terugblik 5 (2001)
- Terugblik 6 (2001)
- Het beste van Will Tura (2 cd’s, 2001)
- De mooiste droom (2002)
- Gospel live! cd & dvd (2002)