Robert Long (singer)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Robert Long


Img_capt =
Img_size = 180
Landscape =
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Jan Gerrit Bob Arend Leverman
Alias = Bob Revvel
Born = birth date|1943|10|22|df=y Utrecht, The Netherlands
Died = death date and age|2006|12|13|1943|10|22|df=y Antwerp, Belgium
Origin =
Instrument =
Genre =
Occupation = Singer, presenter, actor author/columnist
Years_active = 1957 - 2006
Label =
Associated_acts = The Yelping Jackals, Unit Gloria
URL =
Current_members =
Past_members =
Notable_instruments =

Robert Long, (born 22 October 1943 in Utrecht as Jan Gerrit Bob Arend (Bob) Leverman, died 13 December 2006 in Antwerpen) was a Dutch 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 American 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.

Discography

Albums

*1974 "Vroeger of later"
*1975-1976 "Scherts, satire, songs & ander snoepgoed" (play from a theatre show with Robert Long, Jenny Arean, 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"

ingles

*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

TV

*1989-???? Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears - Singer title song

External links

*imdb name|id=0519171|name=Robert Long
* [http://www.robertlong.nl/ Official website] nl icon
* [http://www.popinstituut.nl/biografie/robert_long.4162.html Nationaal Popinstituut Profile] nl icon
* [http://www.popinstituut.nl/discografie/robert_long.4162.html Nationaal Popinstituut Discography]