![MiamiNightmare](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ae/MiamiNightmare.jpg)
Robert Long (22 October 1943 in
Utrecht
Utrecht ( , , ) is the List of cities in the Netherlands by province, fourth-largest city and a List of municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality of the Netherlands, capital and most populous city of the Provinces of the Netherlands, pro ...
as Jan Gerrit Bob Arend (Bob) Leverman – 13 December 2006 in
Antwerp
Antwerp (; nl, Antwerpen ; french: Anvers ; es, Amberes) is the largest city in Belgium by area at and the capital of Antwerp Province in the Flemish Region. With a population of 520,504, ) was a Dutch singer and television presenter.
Biography
Under the stage name "Bob Revel" he founded the band
The Yelping Jackals in 1963. In 1967 he moved to another band, called
Unit Gloria (at that time using the name Gloria). In 1971 he began to sing solo, under the name "Robert Long", a reference to his height. Only a year later he left Unit Gloria to concentrate on his solo career. He started singing in English, but not long after that he also began to sing self-written songs in Dutch. His Dutch songs were critical of Dutch society and of American politics. Of his first Dutch album in 1974, ''Vroeger of Later'' (Sooner or Later) more than half a million records were sold and continued to be a best seller for 118 consecutive weeks. During this period the album reached the top of the charts three times. Also his second album ''Levenslang'' (Lifelong) scored well with sales of more than 300,000. In 1977 he was awarded the first of a total of six
Edison Music Awards
The Edison Award is an annual Dutch music prize awarded for outstanding achievements in the music industry. It is comparable to the American Grammy Award. The Edison award itself is a bronze replica of a statuette of Thomas Edison, designed ...
. During the 80s he scored a top 10 hit in the Netherlands with his song "Iedereen doet 't" (Everybody does it). Subsequent albums also sold well.
In the late 80s Long appeared on television presenting a show called ''Mijn geheim'' (My secret). Despite this new career he received some negative reactions, although the show itself was successful. Soon afterwards he switched to another television network, presenting ''Tien voor taal'' (An A for spelling).
In 1986 Long began writing columns for the Dutch newspaper
Algemeen Dagblad
The ''Algemeen Dagblad'' () or ''AD'' () (English: "General Daily Paper") is a Dutch daily newspaper based in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
History and profile
''Algemeen Dagblad'' was founded in 1946. The paper is published in tabloid format and is ...
. A selection of these columns was released in a book in 1990 using the title ''Vandaag geen nieuws'' (No news today). During this period he presented the television show ''Fantastico''. Together with
Dimitri Frenkel Frank Dimitri may refer
People
* Dmitry, a male given name, Slavic version of Greek name Demetrios
* Dimitri (clown) (1935–2016), Swiss clown and mime
* Dimitri Atanasescu, Ottoman-born Aromanian teacher
* Dimitri from Paris, French DJ
* Dimitri Flower ...
Long composed the Dutch musical Chekhov (based upon the life of the Russian writer
Anton Chekhov
Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (; 29 January 1860 Old Style date 17 January. – 15 July 1904 Old Style date 2 July.) was a Russian playwright and short-story writer who is considered to be one of the greatest writers of all time. His career ...
), which was a big success in the Netherlands, but the German version in which Long also participated, was less popular.
In 1998 a revealing book containing letters was released. Letters about life, death, love, sex, work and colleagues were made public by him and
Cees van der Pluijm
Cees () is a Dutch masculine given name, a short form of Cornelis. Since, as in English, the letter "c" before "e" is normally pronounced in Dutch, the alternative spelling Kees is more common.
Notable people named Cees include:
* Cees Andries ...
using the title ''Beste Robert, Waarde Cees''.
On 8 September 2005 Long suffered a
myocardial infarction
A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which may ...
and was treated with
angioplasty
Angioplasty, is also known as balloon angioplasty and percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), is a minimally invasive endovascular procedure used to widen narrowed or obstructed arteries or veins, typically to treat arterial atheroscle ...
. Later that year, on 6 December 2005 Long married his Belgian boyfriend and manager
Kristof Rutsaert, 28 years his junior. The marriage ceremony was performed by fellow singer and actor
Gerard Cox
Gerardus Antonius "Gerard" Cox (born 6 March 1940, Rotterdam) is a Dutch singer, cabaret artist, actor, and director. For fifteen years, he played the lead character of the Dutch sitcom ''Toen Was Geluk Heel Gewoon''.
Life
In 2018, Cox had a le ...
, a close friend of Long. On 4 December 2006 it was announced he was suffering from a
terminal illness
Terminal illness or end-stage disease is a disease that cannot be cured or adequately treated and is expected to result in the death of the patient. This term is more commonly used for progressive diseases such as cancer, dementia or advanced he ...
as he was admitted to hospital with cancer. Robert Long died on 13 December 2006 at 11 pm in a hospital in
Antwerp
Antwerp (; nl, Antwerpen ; french: Anvers ; es, Amberes) is the largest city in Belgium by area at and the capital of Antwerp Province in the Flemish Region. With a population of 520,504, at the age of 63.
Discography
Albums
*1974 ''Vroeger of later'' – NED: 2× Platinum
*1975–1976 ''Scherts, satire, songs & ander snoepgoed'' (play from a theatre show with Robert Long,
Jenny Arean,
Jerôme Reehuis and
Dimitri Frenkel Frank Dimitri may refer
People
* Dmitry, a male given name, Slavic version of Greek name Demetrios
* Dimitri (clown) (1935–2016), Swiss clown and mime
* Dimitri Atanasescu, Ottoman-born Aromanian teacher
* Dimitri from Paris, French DJ
* Dimitri Flower ...
)
*1977 ''Levenslang'' – NED: Platinum
*1980 ''Homo Sapiens'' – NED: Gold
*1984 ''Dag kleine jongen'' – NED: Platinum
*1984 ''Liefste, mijn liefste''
*1986 ''Achter de horizon'' – NED: Platinum
*1988 ''Hartstocht'' – NED: Gold
*1988 ''Goud op zilver'' – NED: Gold
*1989 ''Liedjes uit de krullentijd''
*1990 ''Het onherroepelijke FANTASTICO album''
*1992 ''Voor mijn vrienden'' – NED: Gold
*1993 ''Het allerbeste van'' (subtitle: 50 jaar goed ter been en nog geen lintje) – NED: Gold
*1994 ''In die dagen''
*1994 ''Uit liefde en respect'' – NED: Gold
*1996 ''Nu''
*1997 ''Uit liefde en respect voor Gershwin''
*1999 ''Lang genoeg jong''
*2000 ''Vanavond tussen 8 en 11 LIVE''
*2002 ''Brand!''
*2006 '' 'n Duivels Genoegen''
Singles
*1973 ''Let us try''
*1973 ''I believe in love''
*1984 ''Heeft een kind een toekomst''
*1986 ''Iedereen doet 't''
*1987 ''Geef ons vrede''
*1988 ''Ai lof joe so''
*1988 ''Vanmorgen vloog ze nog''
Theater
* 1974 – Robert Long (met
Cobi Schreijer)
* 1975 – Scherts, satire, songs en ander snoepgoed (met Jenny Arean, Dimitri Frenkel Frank en Jérôme Reehuis)
* 1976 – En dat is twee (met
Nelleke Burg)
* 1977 – Levenslang (met
Ansje van Brandenberg)
* 1978 – Wat ieder meisje weten moet (met Dimitri Frenkel Frank)
* 1980 – Duidelijk zo!? (met Leen Jongewaard)
* 1982 – Tot hiertoe (heeft de Heere ons geholpen) (met Leen Jongewaard)
* 1983 – En het bleef nog lang onrustig in de stad (met Leen Jongewaard)
* 1978 – Swingpop (musical)
* 1995 – Nu (solo)
* 1999 – Lang genoeg jong
* 2000 – Cole Porter's songbook
* 2002 – Brand (solo)
* 2004 – Kerstconcert
TV
*1989–????
Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears
''Adventures of the Gummi Bears'' is an American animated television series, created by Disney CEO Michael Eisner, produced by Walt Disney Television Animation, and distributed by Buena Vista Television. The series, loosely inspired by the gummy ...
– Singer Dutch language title song
References
External links
*
Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Long, Robert
1943 births
2006 deaths
Dutch pop singers
20th-century Dutch male singers
Dutch comedy musicians
Dutch satirists
LGBT singers from the Netherlands
Musicians from Utrecht (city)
Deaths from cancer in Belgium
Gay musicians
Mass media people from Utrecht (city)
20th-century LGBT people
21st-century LGBT people