Johnny Lion

Johnny Lion (born John van Leeuwarden; 4 July 1941 – 31 January 2019), was a Dutch singer, journalist and actor, best known for his hit single "Sophietje".

Johnny Lion
Johnny Lion and Sophie van Kleef (1966)
Background information
Birth nameJohn van Leeuwarden
Also known asJohnny Lion
Born(1941-07-04)4 July 1941
The Hague, Netherlands
Died31 January 2019(2019-01-31) (aged 77)
Breda, Netherlands
LabelsPhilips Records, EMI
Associated actsThe Jumping Jewels, Rob de Nijs, Ramses Shaffy

Musical career

Lion started his musical career as singer of Johnny and his Jewels, later named The Jumping Jewels. They had a number-one hitsingle in the Netherlands with Wheels in 1961.[1] He left the band in 1965 to focus on a solo career and subsequently delivered hitsingles Sophietje, Tjingeling and Alleen in Dallas. Sophietje was a Dutch translation of Swedish song Fröken Fräken and dedicated to Lion's then-girlfriend Sophie van Kleef.[2]

He also collaborated with Rob de Nijs in Circus Boltini. Boltini was Lion's second wife Mariska Akkerman's uncle.

Journalism

In the 1990s he wrote columns for weekly-magazine Panorama.

Acting

Lion acted in the 1998 film Siberia and in 2003 he had a minor role in Van God Los.[3]

Personal life

He was married twice. Lion was suffering from Alzheimer's disease and lung cancer[4] and died in January 2019.[5]

References
  1. nos.nl; Zanger Johnny Lion van 'Sophietje' overleden, (in Dutch)
  2. bndestem.nl; Johnny Lion (1941–2019) was liever anoniem in de Bredase Belcrum dan een popidool, BN De Stem (in Dutch)
  3. NFF Bio – Filmfestival (in Dutch)
  4. omroepbrabant.nl; De zanger van 'Sophietje' is stervende: 'Johnny Lion is aimabel en bescheiden mens, – Omroep Brabant (in Dutch)
  5. telegraaf.nl Archived 2 February 2019 at the Wayback Machine; Johnny Lion (77) overleden] – Telegraaf (in Dutch)
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