Heddy Lester

Dutch singer and actress (1950–2023)

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
Occupation(s)Singer
Musical artist

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

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

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

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

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

Discography

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

  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
  4. ^ ESC Today 28-1-09
  5. ^ "Mallemolen-zangeres Heddy Lester (72) overleden". De Telegraaf. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.

External links

  • 1977 page at Dingadong.nl (Dutch)
  • Heddy Lester discography at Discogs
  • Heddy Lester at IMDb
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Sandra Reemer
with "The Party's Over"
 Netherlands in the Eurovision Song Contest
1977 		Succeeded by
Harmony
with "'t Is OK"
  • v
  • t
  • e
Nationaal Songfestival
ParticipationArtistsSongs
  • "Alles heeft ritme"
  • "Als het om de liefde gaat"
  • "Amambanda"
  • "Amsterdam"
  • "Arcade"
  • "Een beetje"
  • "Birds"
  • "Birth of a New Age"
  • "Blijf zoals je bent"
  • "Burning Daylight"
  • "Calm After the Storm"
  • "Colorado"
  • "De diepte"
  • "Ding-a-dong"
  • "De eerste keer"
  • "Europapa"
  • "Fernando en Filippo"
  • "Grow"
  • "Heel de wereld"
  • "Hemel en aarde"
  • "Het is een wonder"
  • "I See a Star"
  • "Ik ben verliefd (Sha-la-lie)"
  • "Ik hou van jou"
  • "Ik wil alles met je delen"
  • "Jij bent mijn leven"
  • "Jij en ik"
  • "Katinka"
  • "Lights and Shadows"
  • "De mallemolen"
  • "Morgen"
  • "My Impossible Dream"
  • "Net als toen"
  • "Never Alone"
  • "Niemand heeft nog tijd"
  • "No Goodbyes"
  • "On Top of the World"
  • "One Good Reason"
  • "One More Night"
  • "De oude muzikant"
  • "Out on My Own"
  • "Outlaw in 'Em"
  • "The Party's Over"
  • "Rechtop in de wind"
  • "Ring-dinge-ding"
  • "Shangri-La"
  • "Shine"
  • "Sing Me a Song"
  • "Slow Down"
  • "Een speeldoos"
  • "'t Is genoeg"
  • "'t Is OK"
  • "Tijd"
  • "De troubadour"
  • "De vogels van Holland"
  • "Voorgoed voorbij"
  • "Vrede"
  • "Waar is de zon"
  • "Walk Along"
  • "Wat een dag"
  • "Wat een geluk"
  • "Waterman"
  • "Wijs me de weg"
  • "Without You"
  • "You and Me"
  • "Your Heart Belongs to Me"
  • Note: Entries scored out signify where the Netherlands did not compete
  • v
  • t
  • e
Countries
Final
Withdrawn
  • Tunisia
Artists
Songs
  • "Ahava Hi Shir Lishnayim"
  • "Beatles"
  • "Boom Boom Boomerang"
  • "Casanova"
  • "Enséñame a cantar"
  • "Frère Jacques"
  • "It's Nice to Be in Love Again"
  • "Lapponia"
  • "Libera"
  • "De mallemolen"
  • "Mathima solfège"
  • "A Million in One, Two, Three"
  • "L'Oiseau et l'Enfant"
  • "Une petite française"
  • "Portugal no coração"
  • "Rock Bottom"
  • "Swiss Lady"
  • "Telegram"
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International
  • ISNI
  • VIAF
National
  • Germany
  • Netherlands
Artists
  • MusicBrainz