Loading details…
Artist
Wim De Craene
12+ albums
kleinkunstfolksinger-songwriterNederlandstaligbelgian
about
Wim De Craene (30 July 1950, Melle, Belgium - 14 September 1990, Ghent, Belgium) was a Belgian singer and composer, often seen as part of the theatre arts, though he also experimented with pop music and other styles. His most famous songs are Rozane and Tim. Wim De Craene was born in a catholic family with seven children. At the age of sixteen he began to travel. He studied nursing and drama, but broke off his studies prematurely. With the income he earned as a sweep and a barman, de Craene bought his first guitar. In late 60s, he was a member of the Flemish folkgroup Ja, and was discovered by Miel Cools. At eighteen he went to Amsterdam to get to live closer to his mentor Ramses Shaffy. Shaffy let him perform in the café-chantant 'T Cloppertjen. As a way of saying thank you and expressing his admiration de Craene named his son Ramses. The year 1975 was his most successful year as an artist. Tim (from his album Alles is Nog Bij Het Oude), Rozane (from his album Brussel) and his duet with Della Bosiers, Mensen Van 18, became hits. Considering the subjects of his songs De Craene was usually inspired by people he knew. Because he found that more people would feel addressed when he used common first names, many of his songs bear titles such as Tim, Marieke, Kristien, Elke, Rikky or Marcellino. Not all of these songs are about people who bear that name. Tim, for example, is about his newborn son, Ramses, but because that name woudn't fit the melody, de Craene used the name of
