Arthur Achiel Albert,

Knight A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood finds origins in the Gr ...

Blanckaert (born 2 August 1940 in

Veurne Veurne (; french: Furnes, italic=no, ) is a city and municipality in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the town of Veurne proper and the settlements of , , , , , Houtem, , , Wulveringem, and . History Origins up ...

), known by his stage name Will Tura, is a Belgian artist famous in

Flanders Flanders (, ; Dutch: ''Vlaanderen'' ) is the Flemish-speaking northern portion of Belgium and one of the communities, regions and language areas of Belgium. However, there are several overlapping definitions, including ones related to culture, ...

and the

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

. Tura is a singer, musician (he plays the piano, guitar, drums,

accordion Accordions (from 19th-century German ''Akkordeon'', from ''Akkord''—"musical chord, concord of sounds") are a family of box-shaped musical instruments of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone type (producing sound as air flows past a reed ...

and harmonica), composer and songwriter. He is married to Jenny Swinnen, with whom he has a son David (born 16 October 1974) and a daughter Sandy Tura (born 21 November 1975).

Career

Tura started singing when he was only nine years old, covering

Gilbert Bécaud Gilbert Bécaud (, 24 October 1927 – 18 December 2001) was a French singer, composer, pianist and actor, known as "Monsieur 100,000 Volts" for his energetic performances. His best-known hits are "Nathalie" and "Et maintenant", a 1961 release t ...

and

Nat King Cole Nathaniel Adams Coles (March 17, 1919 – February 15, 1965), known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American singer, jazz pianist, and actor. Cole's music career began after he dropped out of school at the age of 15, and continued f ...

. Tura's first producer was Jacques Kluger, and later his son

Jean Kluger Jean Joseph Kluger (born 31 March 1937) is a Belgian record producer, music publisher and composer. Biography Jean Kluger was born in Antwerp, Belgium, the eldest son of Jacques and Adela Kluger. His career started in 1957, working for his fathe ...

. Will Tura's first hit was ''Eenzaam zonder jou'' ( Eng, Lonely without you) in 1963, for which he wrote the melody, and Ke Riema the text. In a newspaper survey, the song got elected the biggest hit in Flanders ever, and it has a place in the ''Eregallerij'' (an honorary gallery of the Flemish song, an initiative of Belgian

copyright collective Copyrights can either be licensed or assigned by the owner of the copyright. A copyright collective (also known as a copyright society, copyright collecting agency, licensing agency or copyright collecting society or collective management organiz ...

SABAM and radio station Radio 2) since the first edition in 2000. Many hits followed in various musical styles, including

rock 'n roll Rock and roll (often written as rock & roll, rock 'n' roll, or rock 'n roll) is a genre of popular music that evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It originated from African-American music such as jazz, rhythm an ...

gospel Gospel originally meant the Christian message ("the gospel"), but in the 2nd century it came to be used also for the books in which the message was set out. In this sense a gospel can be defined as a loose-knit, episodic narrative of the words an ...

country A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. It may be a sovereign state or make up one part of a larger state. For example, the country of Japan is an independent, sovereign state, while the ...

and rap (''Moa vent toch'', from 1992, in the

West Flemish West Flemish (''West-Vlams'' or ''West-Vloams'' or ''Vlaemsch'' (in French-Flanders), nl, West-Vlaams, french: link=no, flamand occidental) is a collection of Dutch dialects spoken in western Belgium and the neighbouring areas of France and t ...

dialect). In 1984 he made a

tribute album An album is a collection of audio recordings issued on compact disc (CD), vinyl, audio tape, or another medium such as digital distribution. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early 20th century as individual 78 rpm records coll ...

Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), or simply Elvis, was an American singer and actor. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one ...

, together with Elvis' band. In 1992 he also released his first ''Tura in Symfonie'', performing with a

symphonic orchestra A symphony is an extended musical composition in Western classical music, most often for orchestra. Although the term has had many meanings from its origins in the ancient Greek era, by the late 18th century the word had taken on the meaning co ...

. In 1987 Will records the album Ouvertura, together with the

London Symphony Orchestra The London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) is a British symphony orchestra based in London. Founded in 1904, the LSO is the oldest of London's orchestras, symphony orchestras. The LSO was created by a group of players who left Henry Wood's Queen's ...

and Robert Groslot. In 2002 one of Tura's dreams came true, recording an album entitled ''De Mooiste Droom'' (Eng, the most beautiful dream) with the

London Philharmonic Orchestra The London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) is one of five permanent symphony orchestras based in London. It was founded by the conductors Sir Thomas Beecham and Malcolm Sargent in 1932 as a rival to the existing London Symphony and BBC Symphony ...

. In 1988 Will had a car accident, and the song ''Mooi, 't leven is mooi'' (Eng, Beautiful, life is beautiful) about it becomes a megahit in Flanders, and becomes the most frequently played song of 1989 according to SABAM, with Clouseau's ''Anne'' in second place. In 1990, various rock 'n roll artists from Flanders created ''Turalura'', a tribute album for the artist. In 2005, Tura's 65th birthday was celebrated elaborately in the Flemish media, along with the release of the cd ''Viva Tura''. In 1993 Tura sang ''Ik mis je zo'' (Eng, I miss you so) and ''Hoop doet leven'' (Eng, Hope gives life) at the ceremony for the deceased

King Baudouin of Belgium Baudouin (;, ; nl, Boudewijn Albert Karel Leopold Axel Maria Gustaaf, ; german: Balduin Albrecht Karl Leopold Axel Maria Gustav. 7 September 1930 – 31 July 1993), Dutch name Boudewijn, was King of the Belgians from 17 July 1951 until his de ...

. In 2014 he reprised "Hoop doet leven" at the funeral of

Queen Fabiola Queen or QUEEN may refer to: Monarchy * Queen regnant, a female monarch of a Kingdom ** List of queens regnant * Queen consort, the wife of a reigning king * Queen dowager, the widow of a king * Queen mother, a queen dowager who is the mothe ...

. At the engagement party of Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde in 1999 he gave a mini-recital. In 1995 Will was made cultural ambassador of Flanders.

Honours

Tura was appointed an Officer of the Belgian Order of the Crown in 1999. In 2001, he was raised into the

Belgian nobility The Belgian nobility comprises Belgian individuals or families recognized as noble with or without a title of nobility in the Kingdom of Belgium. The Belgian constitution states that no specific privileges are attached to the nobility. History ...

by King Albert II and given for life the Belgian noble title '' Ridder'', translated into English as "Knight".Publicatie : 2001-07-19, Numac : 2001015079
- Belgian official journal

Trivia

* Tura has a cameo in the

Suske en Wiske Suske (English: Willy, Luke, Bob, Spike) is one of the main characters in the popular Belgian comic strip ''Suske en Wiske'' by Willy Vandersteen. He is the boy of the duo. History When Willy Vandersteen created his first adventure story with t ...

album ''De Krimson Crisis'', where he is one of the famous Belgians fighting

Krimson Krimson is a Flemish comic book character and the main antagonist in the Belgian comic strip series ''Suske en Wiske''. He is a doctor, billionaire and supervillain who wants to take over the world. Debut Krimson made his debut in the album " ...

. * Veurne has only three honorary citizens: Will Tura,

Paul Delvaux Paul Delvaux (; 23 September 1897 – 20 July 1994) was a Belgian painter noted for his dream-like scenes of women, classical architecture, trains and train stations, and skeletons, often in combination. He is often considered a surrealist, alt ...

and King

Albert I of Belgium Albert I (8 April 1875 – 17 February 1934) was King of the Belgians from 23 December 1909 until his death in 1934. Born in Brussels as the fifth child and second son of Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders and Princess Marie of Hohenzollern-S ...

. * After his car accident in 1988, the prognosis was that he could never jog again with his broken kneecap. However, in 2006 he still ran 5 to 8 kilometres daily.

Discography

Will Tura has a total of 128 album releases.

1960s

* ''Will Tura'' (1963) * ''Will Tura nr 01'' – Eerste Hits (1964) * ''Will Tura'' (1964) * ''Will Tura nr 02'' (1965) * ''Tura Hits'' (1965) * ''At the piano – Will Tura plays Will Tura'' (1966) * ''Uit het hart'' (1966) * ''Will Tura nr 03'' (1966) * ''Will Tura nr 04'' (1967) * ''Tura story'' (1968) * ''Will Tura nr 05'' (1968) * ''Will Tura nr 06 – Viva el amor'' (1968) * ''Will Tura's eerste hits'' (1969) * ''Will Tura nr 07'' (1969)

1970s

* ''Will Tura nr 08 – Linda'' (1970) * ''Will Tura nr 09'' (1971) * ''Will Tura nr 10'' (1972) * ''Witte Kerstmis'' (1973) * ''Will Tura nr 11'' (1973) * ''This is Will Tura'' (1973) * ''Portrait of Will Tura'' (1973) * ''Will Tura nr 12'' (1974) * ''De wereldreis van kleine Jan'' (1974) * ''Liefdeverdriet'' (1970) * ''Will Tura : his life, his music'' (1975) * ''Will Tura nr 13'' (1975) * ''Avond met Will Tura'' (1975) * ''Lach ermee'' (1975) * ''Will Tura Live'' (1976) * ''Will Tura nr 14'' (1976) * ''Will Tura'' (1976) * ''Will Tura in Nashville'' (1976) * ''Kalender'' (1976) * ''International'' (1976) * ''Gouden plaat van Will Tura'' (1976) * ''Will Tura'' (quality sound series) (1977) * ''Will Tura nr 15'' (1977) * ''Vlaanderen mijn land'' (1977) * ''20 jaar : 1957–1977'' (1977) * ''Will Tura nr 16'' (1978) * ''Will Tura'' (quality sound series) (1978) * ''Hello moeders'' (1978) * ''Vrolijk Kerstfeest, Gelukkig Nieuwjaar'' (1978) * ''Liefdesliedjes Will Tura & Marva'' (1979) * ''Stepping out'' (1979) * ''The golden best of Will Tura'' (1979) * ''Non stop dansen en zingen met Will Tura'' (1979) * ''Will Tura'' (picturedisc) (1979) * ''Hits a gogo'' (1979) * ''In mijn caravan'' (1979)

1980s

* ''I love you'' (1980) * ''Favoriete album vol 1'' (1980) * ''Laatste cowboy'' (1980) * ''Mijn eerste successen'' (case with 3 lp's) (1980) * ''Mijn eerste successen vol 2'' (case with 3 lp's) (1980) * ''Liedjes die ik graag gezongen had (1955–1960)'' (1980) * ''Liefdeverdriet'' (1980) * ''Tura 81'' (1981) * ''Liedjes die ik graag gezongen had (1960–1965)'' (1981) * ''Favorieten album vol 2'' (1981) * ''Toppers van Tura 1'' (1982) * ''Toppers van Tura 2'' (1982) * ''25 jaar Tura – 22 allergrootste successen'' (1982) * ''Liefdeverdriet vol 1'' (1982) * ''Tura 82'' (1982) * ''Mijn grootste successen'' (1983) * ''Tura 83'' (1983) * ''Seventies collectie'' (1984) * ''Will Tura 1957–1964'' (1984) * ''Will Tura zingt Elvis Presley'' (1984) * ''Tura 84'' (1984) * ''Waar een Will is,…'' (1985) * ''Tura 85 – in concert'' (1985) * ''Tura 87'' (1986) * ''Will Tura Hitrevue'' (1986) * ''12 Tura toppers'' (1986) * ''Ik zing alleen voor jou'' (1987) * ''Een uur met Tura'' (1987) * ''Ouvertura – Robert Groslot'' (1987) * ''Tura 2000'' (1988) * ''Vlaanderen'' (1988) * ''De sixties collectie'' (1989) * ''De seventies collectie'' (1989) * ''Tura vandaag'' (1989)

1990s

* ''16 voor Tura'' (1990) * ''Live concert Veurne'' (1990) * ''Turalura, rockers zingen Tura'' (1990) * ''1991 – karaoke jij zingt de hits van Tura'' (1991) * ''Mijn allereerste successen'' (1991) * ''Nieuwe wegen'' (1991) * ''Rock 'n roll in mijn hart'' (1991) * ''Tura in symfonie I'' (1992) * ''Moa ven toch'' (1992) * ''Hoop doet leven'' (1993) * ''Grootste hits 1973–1993'' (1993) * ''Vrolijkste liedjes 1973–1993'' (1994) * ''20 jaar tura'' (3 cd's) (1994) * ''Tura in symfonie II'' (1994) * ''Herinneringen 1973–1993'' (1994) * ''Double gold'' (2 cd's) (1994) * ''Bloed, zweet & tranen'' (1995) * ''Tura in studio'' (1995) * ''Tura in symfonie III'' (1996) * ''Europa'' (1996) * ''Tura in harmonie'' (concertband voor Vlaanderen) (1997) * ''Puur Tura'' (1997) * ''40 jaar – 60s–70s–80s–90s'' (1997) * ''Tura in Vorst'' (2 cd's) (1998) * ''Alleen gaan & de mooiste slows '87–'97'' (1998) * ''Tura gospel & kerst'' (1999)

2000s

* ''Tura gospel'' (2000) * ''ECI Premium (ware liefde)'' (2000) * ''Ware liefde'' (2000) * ''Tura collectie 1'' (2001) * ''Tura collectie 2'' (2001) * ''Tura collectie 3'' (2001) * ''Tura collectie 4'' (2001) * ''Tura collectie 5'' (2001) * ''Tura collectie 6'' (2001) * ''Terugblik 1'' (2001) * ''Terugblik 2'' (2001) * ''Terugblik 3'' (2001) * ''Terugblik 4'' (2001) * ''Terugblik 5'' (2001) * ''Terugblik 6'' (2001) * ''Het beste van Will Tura'' (2 cd's, 2001) * ''De mooiste droom'' (2002) * ''Gospel live!'' CD & DVD (2002)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Tura, Will 1940 births Living people People from Veurne Belgian male singers Belgian knights Officers of the Order of the Crown (Belgium)