George Kooymans

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George Kooymans
2015 Golden Earring - George Kooymans - by 2eight - DSC1419.jpg
George Kooymans in 2015
Background information
Birth nameGeorge Jan Kooymans
Born (1948-03-11) 11 March 1948 (age 76)
The Hague, Netherlands
Genres Rock
Occupation(s)
  • Guitarist
  • songwriter
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Years active1961–2021

George Jan Kooymans (born 11 March 1948) is a Dutch guitarist and vocalist. He is best known for his work with the Dutch group Golden Earring. [1] Kooymans wrote "Twilight Zone", the group's only Top 10 Pop Single on the US Billboard Hot 100, which hit No. 1 on the Billboard Top Album Tracks chart. [2]

Contents

Kooymans also wrote and produced for other artists. In 2017 and 2018 he released two albums as a member of Vreemde Kostgangers (Strange Boarders), a Dutch-language supergroup he formed with Henny Vrienten (bass player of the band Doe Maar) and singer-songwriter Boudewijn de Groot.

Kooymans is married to Melanie Gerritsen, the younger sister of Golden Earring bassist Rinus Gerritsen. Kooymans primarily played a Gibson Les Paul, a Gretsch 6119, a Fender Stratocaster, a Gibson Marauder, a Gibson SG, a Yamaha SG2000, several BC Rich guitars, a double cutaway Gibson Melody Maker and a Gibson Firebird, with his primary amps being a Roland Jazz Chorus, a Vox AC30 amp, and a Fender Twin Reverb. [3] [4]

In February, 2021, Kooymans announced that he was suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and would retire. Shortly afterward, Golden Earring announced they would disband. [5]

Discography

Golden Earring

Solo albums

Singles

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References

  1. ↑ Huey, Steve. "Biography: George Kooymans". AllMusic . Retrieved 23 July 2010.
  2. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2010). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits',' 9th Edition (Billboard Publications), page 259.
  3. ↑ http://www.golden-earring-museum.nl/articles/art0520.htm
  4. ↑ https://www.bol.com/nl/nl/p/songs-snaren-gitaren/9200000054117392/
  5. ↑ "Golden Earring Co-Founder George Kooymans Retires After ALS Diagnosis; Band Calls it Quits". 11 March 2021.
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