Frank Faas, better known as Frank Ferrari, died on Tuesday at the age of eighty. The Brabant singer and former frontman of pop group Ferrari scored several big hits in the 70s, including ‘Sweet Love’, ‘Gypsy Girl’, ‘Mary-Lou’ and ‘Monza’. In recent years, Faas has been struggling with Parkinson’s disease and serious kidney problems.
Faas, born in Den Bosch, started his musical career with various bands. After his military service, he became a singer at The All Stars. In the 70s he made the switch to pop music and broke through with Popgroep Ferrari with Sweet Love. Together with the band, he performed throughout Europe for more than fifteen years.
After the band fell apart in 1980, he continued solo as Frank Ferrari and also performed in duo formations, such as the Bohémiens. He also worked as a producer and wrote songs for other artists. In October 2008 he said goodbye to the general public, after it became known that he was suffering from Parkinson’s. His last performance was in Mill.
A few years ago he was operated on his Parkinson’s complaints in Belgium. As a result, he no longer shivered with his hands and he could sing along again. “He tried to be there everywhere,” says his best friend Jack Van Raamsdonk, who was friends with him for 47 years. Until last week he sang with Café de Sjeng. “He was tired very quickly, but remained so positive.”
Van Raamsdonk knew he would die. “We laughed until last week, but he suddenly deteriorated very quickly.” He said goodbye on Sunday evening. “He heard my voice.” Jackie, “he said. He said it was” great “with him.” Ferrari took his hand during the farewell. “Success buddy,” he said.
Low Budget CDs
“Frank was my best music buddy,” says Van Raamsdonk. “He helped me when I had relationship problems. He was the one who even gave me a house key.” One of his best memories is the discovery of the idea of low budget-cd’s to be produced.
The two developed a construction where they had CDs made in Israel and sold it in the Netherlands. This allowed them to save on music rights. “Everyone who had little to spend bought our CDs. Our booking information was on it, and so we got a lot of work,” he recalls. “They were golden times. We were together day and night.”
Surrounded by his family, at home in Vlijmen, he sang his biggest hit Sweet Love. During that number he breathed his last breath. The funeral takes place in a closed circle.
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