Bob Benny

Bob Benny Born Emilius Wagemans 18 May 1926 Sint-Niklaas Is A Belgian Singer And Musical Theatre Performer Who Participated In The Eurovision Song Contests Of 1959 And 1961. Benny Began His Singing Career At The End Of World War II When He Started Performing Regularly At A Café In Sint-Niklaas. By The Early 1950s He Had Regular Spots On Radio And Released His First Album Mijn Haart Spreekt Tot U My Heart Speaks To You . In 1957 He Had His First Hit Single With "Cindy Oh Cindy" Which Reached #2 On The Belgian Chart. In 1959 Benny Was Chosen With The Song "Hou Toch Van Mij" "Do Love Me" As The Belgian Representative In The Fourth Eurovision Song Contest Which Took Place On 11 March In Cannes France. "Hou Toch Van Mij" Received Votes From Five Of The Other 10 Participating Countries And Finished In Sixth Place. In 1961 Benny Was Again Selected To Represent Belgium With The Song "September Gouden Roos" "September Golden Rose" In The Sixth Eurovision Which Again Was Held In Cannes On 18 March. Although The Contest Had Now Expanded To 16 Participants "September Gouden Roos" Only Managed To Pick Up One Point From Luxembourg Consigning Benny To A Joint Last-Place Finish With Austria's Jimmy Makulis. Benny Had Two Further Hit Singles In 1963 "Waar En Wanneer" #3 And "Alleen Door Jou" #5 . He Became A Musical Theatre Performer And Played In Many Long-Running Shows In Belgium And Germany. In 2001 Benny Suffered A Stroke And Fell Into Financial Difficulties. A Benefit Concert On His Behalf Took Place In Antwerp In April 2003 Featuring The Music Of Richard Rodgers Performed By Well-Known Flemish Artists. In 2006 Benny Celebrated His 80th Birthday And Claimed He Was Back To Full Health. read less