Adri-Jan Hoes (78) from record label Telstar knows that warm personality all too well. As the son of Johnny Hoes (1917-2011), he experienced the breakthrough of the Drent up close. Johnny Hoes is known as King of the Smartlapwas a Dutch singer, producer, composer-writer and founder of the record company Telstar.
Wijngaard celebrated and continues to celebrate his greatest successes with this record company. And it all started near the Drenthe border. “Henk took part in a talent show somewhere in Musselkanaal, organized by my father. He won this talent show with the song With the flame in the pipe and the rest is history.”
Just like Sterken, Hoes notices that times are changing. “Nowadays you can participate in The Voice or another talent show and then you are immediately known nationally. Artists used to have to work a lot harder.”
In addition to Henk Wijngaard, Telstar has also produced for Doe Maar, Arne Jansen and Normal, among others. Johnny Hoes offered pirate music a platform. “I dare say that if my father had not been there, there would not have been a Mega Pirate Festival.”
Adri-Jan Hoes thinks that Wijngaard’s success can be explained by his own voice and emphasizes that he put the truck genre on the map. “Henk is a figurehead for the entire logistics sector in the Netherlands. What is normal for farmers is Henk for truckers. Which professional group now has its own genre?”
The reason why young people also enjoy the comprehensive repertoire is simple, according to Hoes. “The music is very accessible and excites you, for example, it automatically makes you drive faster.”
Hoes also lacks superlatives for the person Henk Wijngaard. “He is very loyal, grateful, does not forget where he comes from, is modest and does not get carried away. Henk does not know how good he is.”
