Recently we lost Fleetwood Mac’s Christine McVie. A brilliant singer/pianist. She only was known among Fleetwood “Die-Hard” fans and musicians.

As any young musician I started in a schoolband. 1958

My Jazz career started when I was 16. (1959) In the trio of famous Dutch drummer Fred van Wijk!

I turned pro in 1961. Blondie on the left. Travelling through Europe. Just earning enough to live.

In principle I am a Jazz pianist/vocalist. But earning money as an unknown musician you have to please the crowd. So I formed my own dance band. Through the years with different names and members.

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We were hungry enough to do mad gigs.

In later years I was lucky to do roadshows with pro international musicians.

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When I moved to Hamburg, in 1970 I joined Jazz Train. For 16 years we were a well-known part of the Hamburger Jazz Scene.

Luckily I had a well paid job by then. Although Jazz was Culture in Germany. Sometimes very well paid! Here a Jazz Train TV gig:

I am still a musician. My piano hero is Oscar Peterson. He hangs above my piano. Sometimes I can hear him grumbling when I stumble over a few notes. You can listen to it:

So far my music history. And my sadness about Fleetwood Christine.

Theo R