The group was launched in 1961 by Roek Willemze in Amsterdam. In the beginning, Buddy Holly and the Beatles were their biggest examples. By 1967, they began to develop their own sound. The line-up that year was: Roek (v, g, keyboards), Ronny Bühre (b, in 1966, released a solo single as Floris VI), Richard de Bois (dr) and Rick Beekman (g). In 1967, organist Fred van Zegveld joined the group and changed its name to Roek's Family. Following yet another name change, to Ginger Ale, the group split up. Roek then formed the duo, Mike & Michael, recorded as a solo artist and became involved in production work. Ronny joined the André van Duin show as a bass player; Richard became a renowned producer; Fred van Zegveld recorded a solo LP in the style of Booker T. Roek further recorded a single with Ria Valk in 1970 under the monicker of Popcorn.
1963 You walked away/Jane Fontana YF 278020 1964 I know what I want/Let's forget Decca AT 10057 1965 Kom terug en dans met mij/Als ik ga door een storm Polydor S 1146 I'll cry/Any bad news Delta DS 1155 1966 Since I lost your love/Jane Decca AT 10211 Please don't go away/Always Delta DS 1171 Take your time/Scarlet ribbons Delta DS 1193 I don't believe you/All my dreams come true Delta DS 1209 1967 A star/The day of my life Delta DS 1235 Jean McKellygan/Now you're mine Delta DS 1254 1968 LP Family favourites Delta MU 210
Roek's Family was continuation of the Amsterdam group Roek Williams & Fighting Cats and predecessor to Ginger Ale. Roek's Family featured Roek Willemze (v, o, p, by the end of 1968 replaced by Steve Allet, ex-Dean Allen Set and solo as Cockie Kay), Fred van Zegveld (o), Ronny Bühre (b), Richard Debois (dr), Rick Beekman (g) and Will Luikinga (s, fl, ex-Dean Allen Set).
1968 I go to bed at seven/Natalie [as Mr. Brown's Family] Delta DS 1282 I want you back again/Giddy up a dingdong Park BP 1007 Get yourself a ticket/Never an everyday thing Park BP 1010 Crazy rockin' Daisy/Long time ago [advertising Désirée engagement-rings] Basart PROM 68003 1969 Hurray for the army/In my mind Park BP 1016 I can remember/Teresa Park BP 1019 LP Get yourself a ticket Park LBP 3002 1976 Get yourself a ticket/I want you back again [new recording] Poker S 627
Continuation of Roek's Family without Roek Williams: Will Luikinga (fl, s), Fred van Zegveld (o), Ron Bijtelaar (b, ex-Hunters), Rick Beekman (g), Richard de Bois (dr) and Steve Allet (v, in 1970 joined Ekseption). Rick and Richard rejoined Windjammer in 1977.
1969 The flood/Gin fizz Eagle 4 1970 The promised land/The golden calf Eagle 7 In the sand/Get off my life woman Negram NG 191 1971 In the sand/The seventh floor Negram NG 257 Scoobidab/Sugar Suzy Injection 134541 Bella bella ding dong/Daddy of his daughter Injection 134545 1972 Man man man/Daddy of his daughter Injection 134550
A session trio, consisting of three well-known producers: Peter van Asten (ex-Amsterdam and solo as Peter Bewley), Richard Debois (ex-Ginger Ale) and Rick Beekman (ex-Ginger Ale). They also re-recorded their first hit in Dutch (under the name Wat Jammer).
1977 Harborlight/Goodbye Joanne Elektra ELKN 12264 1978 Bang bang/Still the one Elektra ELKN 12280 1981 Losing you/Still the one WEA WEAN 18747 1982 Runaway boy/Carolina Ladybird 8202
1977 Havenlicht/Kant B Mercury 6198175
1973 Elsje/'t Moet toch liefde zijn CNR 141211 Annemieke/Kom dicht bij mij Isabelle CNR 141234 1974 Veronica bedankt... en tot ziens/Nu en altijd CNR 141258 Hasta la vista/Coco Imperial 5C 006-25030 1975 De nachtzuster/Ga maar mee EMI 5C 006-25068 1976 E 35/Droom Negram NG 2086 M'n beste vriend/Hallo lieveling Negram NG 2126
1969 LP Dynamite Park LBP 3006
1970 Just see him go/Billy blue [with Ria Valk] Decca 6100003
1981 LP Hello good evening Burec 1001
This group recorded the Dutch version of "They're Coming To Take Me Away, Ha Ha".
1966 Ze nemen me eindelijk mee haha/Ahah eem kjilednie em nemen ez Decca AT 10223
1967 I'm still free/Baby Whamm PS 018 Yeah yeah [on LP All together now] [= Baby] Turnette TNT 304
Coen Merkelbach - singer from Amsterdam. He participated in the Canyons (1966/1967, also working under the names Paintbox and Gertrude's Dream), Dean Allen Set (1967), Roek's Family, Ginger Ale, George Cash, Ekseption, Steve Allet Bunch, Brandy, Antilope, Steve Allet Band and Dizzy Man's Band. The Canyons line-up featured: Hans Keijser (o, p, ex-Pepper & Soul, to Sharks & Me), Toon Dols (dr, to Jigsaw), Siebe (g) and Roel Smits (b, to George Cash).
Dean Alan Set were: Will Luikinga (s, fl, to Roek's Family), Ferry Maat (o,p, ex-Billy Longstreet, to Free, on the record replaced by Frank Smit, to Hunters), Rob Morel (b, ex-Highschool Five, to Serpentine), Ralf Dragstra (trb, to Serpentine), Bob de Laat (s, to Serpentine), Dick Pels (g, ex-Caps, to Serpentine) and Hage Koerts (dr, on the record replaced by Willem Kantenbeen (dr, ex-Caps, to Playboys).
Antilope were: Gerard Korff (dr, ex-Confrontation, died in 1978), Dick Jongman (g, to Ricochet) and Klaasje v.d. Wal (b, ex-Shocking Blue).
Steve Allet Band (in 1975) featured: Frans Veldhuizen (o, p, ex-Sense of Humour, to Ice), Frans Brammer (g, ex-Debbie), Albert Schierbeek (b, ex-Booby Trap, to Bintangs) and Rex Stulp (dr, ex-Purple Vision, Regulation and Born Dead, to Gangsters Of Love and Ice). A later line-up (1977) featured, amongst others, Hans de Zwart (b, ex-Dizzy Man's Band) and Jens Hengst (g, ex-Brandy). When Steve Allet joined Dizzy Man's Band in 1978, his band kept working under the name All Men's Company.
1972 For Yasgur's farm/Bang bang [Steve Allet Bunch] Imperial 5C 006-24494 1973 A love like yours/Little lady BASF 05-15241-?
Rock group from 't Gooi, launched in 1967. The first line-up lasted until 1969 and consisted of: Peter van der Sande (v, g, ex-Sexton Five, Highschool Five, Smokey and Kingbees), Rob Morel (b, ex-Dean Allen Set), Ralf Dragstra (o, p, trb, ex-Dean Allen Set), Bob de Laat (s, ex-Dean Allen Set), Patrick Verboom (tr), Frank van Tijn (v, dr, to OPMC) and Dick Pels (g, ex-Guardians, to Dean Allen Set). In 1969, Peter left the group temporarily. Serpentine started accompanying Amos Tamela (ex-Mustang Soul) and Sandra Reemer.
Peter then recorded a single for Polydor with his new group Blech, featuring: Fije Jasky (dr), Ton Jasky (b), Theo Andriessen (p), Ad le Conte (o). Nevertheless, the single was released under the name Serpentine, because Peter had soon returned to his old band. The line-up was then narrowed down to: Peter van der Sande (v, b), Onno Lopulalan (g), Frank van Tijn (v, dr) and Ralf Dragstra (o, p). Band members also did a lot of session work - for California License, Big Boy & Bouncers and OPMC, amongst others. On account of legal reasons, later records were released under the moniker Apartment One. Serpentine fell apart in 1970; Peter joined Focus.
1969 Yesterday papers/Round and round Polydor S 1324 1970 Powerful Jim/I've only got myself Pink Elephant PE 22031 Instant allison/Hey dreamer Pink Elephant PE 22038 LP In the grass Pink Elephant PE 877003 1971 Behind tomorrow/Wake up Pink Elephant PE 22051
1970 Eternal moralist/Sweet little pink electric guitar Pink Elephant PE 22037 1972 Like a queen/What's going on Pink Elephant PE 22064 Step inside/Fuzz buzz Pink Elephant PE 22613 LP Open house [recordings 1969] Pink Elephant PE 877013
ROEK WILLIAMS & THE FIGHTING CATS 18-12-65 SINGLE 40 1 I'LL CRY FLORIS VI 3-9-66 SINGLE 17 2 ZE NEMEN ME EINDELIJK MEE, HA HA ROEK WILLIAMS 20-8-66 SINGLE 32 3 TAKE YOUR TIME 2-6-73 SINGLE 16 6 ELSJE 20-10-73 SINGLE tip ANNEMIEKE 13-4-74 SINGLE tip VERONICA BEDANKT 21-2-76 SINGLE tip E-35 7-8-76 SINGLE tip M'N BESTE VRIEND ROEK'S FAMILY 11-1-69 SINGLE 11 10 GET YOURSELF A TICKET GINGER ALE 13-12-69 SINGLE 4 8 THE FLOOD 7-8-71 SINGLE 11 7 SCOOBIDAB 16-10-71 SINGLE tip IN THE SAND WINDJAMMER 27-8-77 SINGLE 15 7 HARBORLIGHT
Submitted by: Adri Verhoef
(a3@a3.xs4all.nl-removespam)
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