Leon de Graaff


Main image



Leon de Graaff (Haarlem, 22 February 1950) is a Dutch singer and guitarist. He reached the charts in 1971 with Pittsburgh in the rain.

He received his education at the MULO, then went to the HBS and studied physiotherapy for some time. During that time he played the banjo and trumpet in a local dixieland orchestra. The next step was his work for the return division of record label Negram, he moved to Bovema, the Dutch branch of EMI Group. After working for record label Vogue for a short time, he started working at the Capi Lux record store on the Rozengracht in Amsterdam. In his spare time, he played Top 40 tunes at weddings and parties. He enrolled in a Phonogram talent show and won it. He was then allowed to record Pittsburgh in the rain under the direction of Boudewijn de Groot. 10,000 copies of the plate were purchased. Then Phonogram put the brakes on further development, they released two more singles, but that company did nothing about promotion, according to an interview in the Nieuwsblad van het Noorden of 1 March 1974. Yet De Graaf also blamed himself a bit for the stagnation of his musical career. He gave priority to his work at Capi Lux and the festive evenings.

Music magazine Muziek Express named him the most promising artist of the year in 1971.

In 1971 he appeared in the VARA program Boingk-k-k. In the television program a competition was held who was the best interpreter of the song Manuela by Vader Abraham, who was on the jury together with the original singer Jacques Herb. Rob de Nijs also appeared in the program and Elly de Waard, then a pop critic at De Volkskrant, commented. In 1973 he took part in the song festival in Athens, Greece, saying in the same interview that he was not supported at all by his record label.

In 1974 Conny Vandenbos recorded the song Even talk (Clouds) from him, which De Graaff had recorded for his never-released album. In 1976, Mother and daughter (Too bad Anastasia) followed the same principle, Herman Pieter de Boer provided the translation for the latter.

Nothing was heard from him after 1974. At the time, he would, strangely enough, have worked at Phonogram until 1985.

KOMPILACE +


Conny Vandenbos
Het Complete Oeuvre Van Conny Vandenbos
2017, 15xCD, Comp, Ltd, Num, RM, S/Edition, Universal Music, ,
Ballad/Vocal/Light Music/Chanson
Conny Vandenbos
Het Allermooiste Van Conny Vandenbos
2008, 3xCD, Comp, CNR Music, ,
Chanson/Ballad
Různí
50 Jaar Nederpop (Rare & Obscure)
2008, 4xCD, Comp, Universal Music, Fonos, Beeld En Geluid,
Conny Vandenbos
Ik Zou Het Weer Zo Doen / Het Mooiste Uit 40 Jaar
2001, 2xCD, Comp, Q Two Records, ,
Chanson/Ballad
Různí
Nederpop Top 100 Gold
1994, 5xCD, Comp + Box, Jam Records (4), EVA, ,
Blues Rock/Europop/Pop Rock
Boudewijn De Groot
Boudewijn De Groot
1982
BZN
De Hits In Beeld
1982, VHS, ,
Chanson/Ballad/Europop
Conny Vandenbos
Het Beste Van Conny Vandenbos
1981, Vinyl, ,
Vocal
Conny Vandenbos
Licht En Schaduw
1977, Vinyl Gatefold, ,
Chanson/Ballad
Conny Vandenbos
Het Beste Van Conny Vandenbos
1977, Vinyl, ,
Chanson/Vocal
Conny Vandenbos
Ome Arie
1976, 7", Single, Park (2)
Mike Rondell
Goin' Back In Time
1975, LP, Album, BASF, BASF,
Conny Vandenbos
Van Dichtbij
1975, ,
Chanson/Levenslied
Jackpot
Again
1975
Teach-In
Roll Along
1974, Vinyl, ,
Europop
Conny Vandenbos
Een Vrouw Van Deze Tijd
1974, Vinyl Gatefold, ,
Chanson/Ballad
Dirk Van Der Ploeg
Dirk Van Der Ploeg
1973, LP, Album, Philips, ,
Country Rock
Euson
Euson
1972
Různí
Look Out! / Alle Dertien Goed
1971, 2xLP, Comp, Gat, Philips, Boek En Plaat,
Různí
De Beste Muziek Uit NOS Langs De Lijn
2020, 4xCD, Comp + CD, Comp, Bon, Universal Music, ,
Vocal/Pop Rock/Rock & Roll/Alternative Rock/Soul/Rhythm & Blues/Contemporary R&B/Funk/Jazz-Funk/Classic Rock/Swing
Různí
De Beste Muziek Uit "Langs De Lijn"
2020
Různí
The Golden Years Of Dutch Pop Music - The Seventies Part 1 (Hits & Tips 1970-1971)
2016, 2xCD, Album, Comp, Universal Music,
Různí
The Golden Years Of Dutch Pop Music - The Seventies Part 1 (Hits & Tips 1970-1971)
2016, 2xCD, Album, Comp, Universal Music,
Různí
Theater van het Sentiment De Jaren 70
2008, 4xCD, Comp, Sony BMG Music Entertainment,
Různí
Nederpop Met Hart En Ziel 1955-1979 Vol 1.
2003, 2xCD, Comp, Universal, ,
Ballad/Vocal
Různí
Nederbeat - Volume 1
2003, CD, Comp, Universal,
Různí
Hormonen Op Hol - 40 Nederpop Klassiekers
2002, 2xCD, Comp, Universal,
Různí
All Kinds Of Everything
2000, CD, Comp, Hunter Music (2), ,
Vocal/Ballad
Různí
MCB Kleurrijk Programma
1995, 2xCD, Comp, PolyGram Special Marketing, PolyGram Special Marketing, MCB (6), MCB (6),
Různí
De Geschiedenis Van De Nederlandse Pop Muziek - Deel 2 - 1970-1974
1992, 2xCD, Comp, EVA,
Různí
De Mooiste Luisterliedjes
1992, CD, Comp, Mercury,
Vocal/Ballad/Chanson
Různí
20 Nederpophits Uit De Jaren 70 Deel 3
1991, CD, Comp, Mercury, ,
Soft Rock/Acoustic/Blues Rock
Různí
16 Happy Hits Of The Seventies Volume 1
1989, CD, Comp, Philips
Různí
Remember The 70's Volume 3
1984, 2x Vinyl Gatefold,
Různí
Look Out! (Hilversum Ill Troetel Elpee)
1971, LP, Comp, Philips,