ROEK WILLIAMS & FIGHTING CATS

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

Roek's Family was continuation of the Amsterdam group Roek Williams & Fighting Cats and predecessor to Ginger AleRoek'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

GINGER ALE

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

WINDJAMMER

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

WAT JAMMER

1977	Havenlicht/Kant B Mercury 6198175

ROEK WILLIAMS

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

FRED VAN ZEGVELD

1969	LP Dynamite Park LBP 3006

POPCORN

1970	Just see him go/Billy blue [with Ria Valk] Decca 6100003

COMBO RONNY BÜHRE

1981	LP Hello good evening Burec 1001

FLORIS VI

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

DEAN ALLEN SET

1967	I'm still free/Baby Whamm PS 018
	Yeah yeah [on LP All together now] [= Baby] Turnette TNT 304

STEVE ALLET

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-?

SERPENTINE

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 OneSerpentine 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

APARTMENT ONE

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

Dutch charts:

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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