With his dark voice as a trademark, Robbert Fossen from Stroet has been a welcome guest on the blues circuit in the Netherlands for 35 years. Last year, the blues musician was put to the test after his two-year-old son became seriously ill. At the same time his new band Memphis Soul Stew was formed. “Listening to music allowed me to cry and making music provided distraction.”
Bluesman Robbert Fossen from Stroet – NH News
The village of Stroet in the Kop van Noord-Holland looks somewhat deserted among the bare fields and trees. Robbert Fossen’s house can be recognized by the patio under construction and the old blue and white American pick-up on the lawn. Inside, Fossen strums a blues riff on a guitar as we know it from Robbert Johnson or Jimmie Reed.
Low voice
Then he starts singing and you immediately hear the unique talent of this man. “I have always had a low voice, it runs in the family, my son also has a low voice. But a lot of singing and wear and tear also gives that edge and I must admit that I have also smoked a lot in the past.”
Robbert grew up in Heemstede. He shared a love of music with a nephew. At first they were into rock ‘n’ roll by Elvis, Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis. “Then I suddenly heard something that was different,” says Robbert. “It turned out to be Muddy Waters. Then I was sold.”
The young Robbert took one blues record after another from the library and discovered the roots of pop music and became hooked.
His dark voice, musical talent and love for the blues have brought him a lot. Over the past thirty years he has performed solo, in duo or with various bands in countless pubs and on various stages and festivals.
Get off on it!
Five years ago he made the album Get off on it! with the Robbert Fossen Band. In 2014, Robbert was selected Blues Singer of the Year and his band became Blues Band of the Year.
A year earlier, he reached the final of the International Blues Challenge Memphis 2013, the largest blues competition in the world on the sacred grounds of Memphis USA. “Then you stand in that enormous Orpheum Theater where all the great pop, rock and blues musicians have performed since the sixties,” Fossen beams. “Yes, that is recognition, although it did not result in a big record deal.”
Last year the blues hit hard in the life of Robbert Fossen. Together with his young wife Suus, whom he met at the Texel Blues Festival, they had a son, Floyd, a few years ago.
Life comes to a standstill
To the shock of Robbert and Suus, a tumor was found in the boy last year. It heralded a tumultuous period with many hospital visits, chemo and operations.
“Ordinary life actually comes to a standstill,” says Robbert. “Fortunately we are now on the right side of the line and things are looking good for Floyd.” During this period, Robbert found support not only from his wife, friends and family, but also from music.
“I would put on music and at least I could cry for a while,” he says with moist eyes.
New tire
Robbert formed a new band in recent months: Memphis Soul Stew. “I was able to meet up every now and then to play with musicians from the immediate area. That also provided the necessary distraction,” he says.
What started as a distraction has now become a serious project. With Memphis Soul Stew he goes further than just the blues. “We play everything that came together in Memphis in the sixties, seventies and eighties. So not only blues, but also soul, rock ‘n’ roll, country, R&B and gospel,” says Robbert. “I also play less guitar and sing more. And that is wonderfully relaxing.”
Robbert Fossen and his Memphis Soul Stew will be on stage Scagon in Schagen on Saturday February 10 and in De Zevenskoop in Den Helder on March 24.
Culture Club at NH News
Culture Club is the weekly culture program of NH Nieuws. Reporters Roos Elkerbout and Ron Flens visit artists, bands, theater makers and writers to gain insight into what is happening culturally in our province.