Bob Benny | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Emilius Wagemans |
| Born | 18 May 1926 |
| Origin | Sint-Niklaas, Belgium |
| Died | 29 March 2011 (aged 84) |
| Genres | Pop, musical theatre |
| Occupation | Singer |
Bob Benny (18 May 1926 – 29 March 2011), born Emilius Wagemans, was a Belgian singer and musical theatre performer, who participated in the Eurovision Song Contests of 1959 and 1961.
Benny began his singing career at the end of World War II when he started performing regularly at a café in Sint-Niklaas. By the early 1950s, he had regular spots on radio and released his first album Mijn haart spreekt tot u (My Heart Speaks to You). In 1957, he had his first hit single with "Cindy, Oh Cindy", which reached No. 2 on the Belgian chart.
In 1959, Benny was chosen, with the song "Hou toch van mij" ("Do Love Me"), as the Belgian representative in the fourth Eurovision Song Contest which took place on 11 March in Cannes, France. [1] Hou toch van mij received votes from five of the other 10 participating countries and finished in sixth place. [2]
In 1961, Benny was again selected to represent Belgium, with the song "September, gouden roos" ("September, Golden Rose"), in the sixth Eurovision, which again was held in Cannes, on 18 March. [3] Although the contest had now expanded to 16 participants, "September, gouden roos" only managed to pick up one point from Luxembourg, consigning Benny to a joint last-place finish with Austria's Jimmy Makulis. [4]
Benny had two further hit singles in 1963, Waar en wanneer (#3) and Alleen door jou (#5). He became a musical theatre performer and played in many long-running shows in Belgium and Germany.
In 2001, Benny suffered a stroke and fell into financial difficulties. A benefit concert on his behalf took place in Antwerp in April 2003, featuring the music of Richard Rodgers performed by well-known Flemish artists. In 2006, Benny celebrated his 80th birthday and claimed he was back to full health. [5]
In 2001, Benny came out as homosexual. [6]
On 29 March 2011 the Flemish broadcaster Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroep (VRT) reported that Benny had died in a nursing home in Sint-Niklaas. [6]
The Eurovision Song Contest 1961 was the 6th edition of the annual Eurovision Song Contest. Once again, the contest was held in the French seaside city of Cannes, which had also hosted the 1959 edition. Organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and host broadcaster Radiodiffusion-Télévision Française (RTF), the contest was again held at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès on Saturday 18 March 1961, becoming the first contest to take place on a Saturday evening, a tradition that has continued ever since. The show was directed by Marcel Cravenne and again hosted by Jacqueline Joubert, who had also hosted in 1959.
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Belgium was represented in the Eurovision Song Contest 1959 with the song "Hou toch van mij", composed by Hans Flower, with lyrics by Ke Riema, and performed by Bob Benny. The Belgian participating broadcaster, Nationaal Instituut voor de Radio-omroep (NIR), selected its entry through a national final.
Belgium was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1961 with the song "September, gouden roos", composed by Hans Flower, with lyrics by Wim Brabants, and performed by Bob Benny. The Belgian participating broadcaster, Flemish Belgische Radio- en Televisieomroep (BRT), selected its entry through a national final. Benny had previously represented Belgium in the 1959 contest.
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This is a list of Belgian television related events from 1959.
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