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== Reunion ==
== Reunion ==


[[File:Toni_Willé_with_Dennis_Jones_in_a_radio_interview_programme.jpg|thumb|left|Toni Willé in a radio interview programme with [http://home.tiscali.nl/dennisjones/nieuws.html Dennis Jones] (left) on his 2007 reggae cover version of 'Mississippi' ]]In 1999, Toni Willé reunited with her sisters Betty and Marianne for a reunion show of the Pussycat at the Zomerparkfeest in [[Venlo]] and then again for the band [http://www.majordundee.com/ Major Dundee]'s album "Young Gods" in 2005.
[[File:Toni_Willé_with_Dennis_Jones_in_a_radio_interview_programme.jpg|thumb|left|Toni Willé in a radio interview programme with [http://www.dennisjones.nl/ Dennis Jones]] (left) on his 2007 reggae cover version of 'Mississippi' ]]In 1999, Toni Willé reunited with her sisters Betty and Marianne for a reunion show of the Pussycat at the Zomerparkfeest in [[Venlo]] and then again for the band [http://www.majordundee.com/ Major Dundee]'s album "Young Gods" in 2005.


In 2007 they reunited yet again to give backing vocals to [[Dutch language|Dutch]] singer [http://www.dennisjones.nl/ Dennis Jones] [[reggae]] cover of single "[[Mississippi (song)|Mississippi]]" which was produced by Kees Tel. Toni and her sisters also featured in the video clip with Dennis Jones in 'Making of Mississippi' as well as for the cover version of the same song for which they provided backing vocals.
In 2007 they reunited yet again to give backing vocals to [[Dutch language|Dutch]] singer [http://www.dennisjones.nl/ Dennis Jones] [[reggae]] cover of his single "[[Mississippi (song)|Mississippi]]" which was produced by Kees Tel. Toni and her sisters also featured in the video clip with Dennis Jones in 'Making of Mississippi' as well as for the cover version of the same song for which they provided backing vocals.


== Recordings in 2000s ==
== Recordings in 2000s ==

Revision as of 07:32, 25 November 2013

Toni Willé
Colored photograph of Toni Willé standing onstage holding a mike. She has long blonde hair and is wearing a black top and off-white full sleeved top with grey pants.
Toni Wille live in Lingen, Germany 2013, Photographer : Peter Löning
Background information
Birth nameToni Willé
Born (1953-06-26) 26 June 1953 (age 71)
Treebeek, Limburg, Netherlands
GenresPop, Country
OccupationSinger-songwriter
Years active1963–present
LabelsEMI Bovema
WebsiteOfficial website

Toni Willé (born Antonia Johanna Cornelia Kowalczyk, 26 June 1953 in Treebeek, Limburg, the Netherlands), is a country pop artist who was also the lead vocalist of former Dutch band 'Pussycat'.

She is the daughter of a Polish miner Stefan Kowalcyk, from Wloszczowa, Poland who came to the Netherlands in 1948 to work in the coal mines after serving in the US Army in Germany.[1]

Musical career

Sweet Reaction in 1973

Toni’s career as the lead vocalist of 1970s pop group ‘Pussycat’ started along with her two older siblings Betty and Marianne Kowalczyk[2] as ‘Zingende Zusjes’ (The Singing Sisters) in 1963. Their German songs were welcomed by a willing audience, which led them to perform in a larger arena. When the beat-era came, they changed their style of music. They introduced a female drummer Tonny Jeroense and altered their name into "The BG's or the Beat Girls from Holland", one of the first female groups in the Netherlands. Later led by their guitar teacher Werner Theunissen they altered their name for a third time to Sweet Reaction in 1973 around the time the successful single "Tell Alain" was released.[3]

Pussycat

Pussycat group presented with the Conamus Award in 1977

EMI Bovema took Toni under contract as the lead singer along with her two sisters as backing vocalists accompanied by Lou Willé (g), Theo Wetzels (b), John Theunissen (g), Henk Hochstenbach, Hans Lutjens ('til 1973), Theo Coumans (from 1973) and again Hans Lutjens. The new name PUSSYCAT was born and by then their first production already went on to be a sensation.[4] Their first hits were written and composed by songwriter Werner Theunissen.

In 1975, 'Mississippi' shot up to No.1 in the Netherlands,[5] in 1976 for 4 weeks at No.1 in England[6] (UK Singles Chart) and Germany[7] and from there all over Europe,[8] Latin America, Australia, Africa and Asia. Four million singles were sold in 1976 alone. It was the most sold record in Germany. In Brazil "Mississippi" stayed for 129 weeks in the charts. It became No.1 in over 30 countries, from Brazil to Australia,[8] from Europe to South-Africa.[8] The follow-up for "Mississippi" was "Georgie" at No.4 in the Netherlands, and "Smile" (also in 1976) even went to No.2. During the following 10 years 6 hit albums and 17 singles were produced, all of them almost equally successful.[9]

1985 - Going Solo

In 1981, the group was reduced to only Toni, Betty, Marianne and Lou Willé. The success continued a few years, but in 1985 the group decided to split up. For Toni it was a good opportunity to spread her wings and work on a solo-career. Toni went on to a very successful solo career which resulted in the release of the album 'Privilege' in 1985, with songs that were well-chosen, and were sung with Toni's powerful and recognizable voice.

Toni recorded 'Mama' a single in 1999 which was included in the Album by Dutch Artists from Limburg titled 'Diverse Artiesten - De Geschiedenis Van De Limburgse Popmuziek 3'

With her album "Pussycat - The Collection and More" Toni rerecorded the biggest hits of Pussycat with "I'll be your woman" as her favourite along with some new songs, like the ballads "Desperado", "Still on my mind" and her own version of the big Elkie Brooks hit "Pearl's a singer". With "Pussycat - The Collection and more" she proved once again that she is a unique singer in the Netherlands with an international sound.[10]

Accolades

In 1989, the Dutch magazine "Country Gazette" awarded her as "Best female country singer of the year". Toni was subsequently given this same accolade in both 1990 and 1991 as well. "Privilege" was followed by "Working Girl" in 1987 and "New Words to an Old Love Song" in 1989 which became the best Country CD of that year. She sang the theme song "Love in a Heatwave' to the Dutch movie thriller "De Flat" in 1994.

Réunion

Toni Willé in a radio interview programme with [http://www.dennisjones.nl/ Dennis Jones

(left) on his 2007 reggae cover version of 'Mississippi' ]]In 1999, Toni Willé reunited with her sisters Betty and Marianne for a reunion show of the Pussycat at the Zomerparkfeest in Venlo and then again for the band Major Dundee's album "Young Gods" in 2005.

In 2007 they reunited yet again to give backing vocals to Dutch singer Dennis Jones reggae cover of his single "Mississippi" which was produced by Kees Tel. Toni and her sisters also featured in the video clip with Dennis Jones in 'Making of Mississippi' as well as for the cover version of the same song for which they provided backing vocals.

Recordings in 2000s

Toni sang the duet "Oh, How I Miss You" with Dutch singer Benny Neyman and recorded the album "American Duets" with him in 2000. In 2004 she sang the duet "Heart Half Empty" with singer Danny Vera.[11] She also worked on a Dutch and English duet mix titled 'Maedjes van 50' (Girls in their fiftees) with Jo Smeets which was included in the Dutch album that featured various artists from her native Limburg titled 'Diverse Artiesten - Limburg Allein Deil 3' in the year 2009.

In 2006, she recorded the album ‘Fantastic Stores'[12] ’ and in 2009 ‘Worlds United'[13] and a third one in 2012 called ‘Impressions’[14] of which the title song was dedicated to music composer Werner Theunissen who died on January 18, 2010 in Great Britain as a result of a heart failure.

She recorded an album with Fiji artist Daniel Rae Costello called 'Let the World Sing' and released her Fiji tour live concert album on DVD under the title 'The Golden Memories Tour, Fiji' in 2010. This album contains the song 'Impressions' which was the last song composer Werner Theunissen had written for her.[15]

Toni Willé in recording studio recording her single 'Happy' with songwriter Paul Logister

In 2012, Toni recorded a single called ‘Happy’ along with songwriter and composer Paul Logister which was released in August 2013.[16]

Toni Willé at Present

Toni Wille at Niedersachsen Oldies, Aurich, Germany (October 2013) Photographer - Micheal Bach

Nowadays, Toni Willé often performs with two girls as backing-vocalists or sometimes alone. One of the girls backing her is her beautiful daughter Kimberly. She is famous all over Europe especially in Germany, where she's very successful with both old as well as new hits. 30,000 people watch her in the Hamburg Volksparkstadium, over 20,000 in the Berlin Waldbühne, 20,000 at the Radio Nora Open-air in Bad Segeberg, over 10,000 at open-airs in Leipzig, Dresden & Schwarzenberg and over 5,000 at the Porsche-Oldie-Night in Stuttgart. In October 2006, she performed for an audience of over 15,000 people at the Köln Arena in Colognetogether with Chris Andrews and Harpo.[11]. She also gives concerts in countries like Bulgaria, Slovenia and Greece.[7].

In 2010 she performed at the Vodafone Arena, Fiji for the 'Golden Memories Tour concert' organized by her Fijian friend and artist Daniel Rae Costello and the Cruzez.

In 2012, she performed with George Baker and BZN at Moreleta Park in Pretoria, south Africa. It was the 35th anniversary of the hit song ‘Mississippi’ that year. In September 2013, she was invited to South Africa once again to perform at the Clover Aardklop festival under the banner Toni Willé and South Afrikaan friends, where she sang some of her most popular numbers like "Mississippi", "Georgie" and "My Broken Souvenirs" along with Steve Hofmeyr, Nadine and other well known South African singers.[16]

Toni lives a very normal and simple life in Brunssum, the Limburg-province next to Germany. When she is not performing in concerts or attending live shows she spends her time with her two children Nick and Kimberly Willé along with her granddaughter Kimberly’s little daughter Genyva. She visits her sisters Betty and Marianne and has coffee with them over the weekends. Almost every week she is on tour in Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland or Austria where she has proved to be an especially popular singer with both old as well as new hits. She is one of the top-acts of the 1970s at all gala-events, city-festivals, open-airs and oldie-nights. She has the same unique and original Pussycat-voice as in the 1970s presenting all the hits live on stage.[7]

Discography

Toni Willé at the NDR 1 Niedersachsen oldies show, Aurich, Germany (Oct 2013) Photographer - Micheal Bach

Albums - Toni Willé

  • Golden Memories Tour, Fiji (2010)
  • Worlds United (2009)
  • Fantastic Stories (2006)
  • Neyman & Willé - American Duets (2001)
  • New Words to an Old Love Song (1989)
  • Working Girl (1987)
  • Privilège (1985)

Top Singles - Toni Willé

  • Happy (2013)
  • Impressions: dedicated to composer Werner Theunissen (2012)
  • Doin' la Bamba (2012)
  • Mississippi (2012)
  • I Wanna Love You (2012)
  • Dreaming of a Christmas With You (2012)
  • Like a Child (Radio Version) (2012)
  • Can't Get Over You (2012)
  • Fantasy (2013)
  • Never Wanna Lose (2012)
  • I'm Only Dreaming (2012)
  • As Long As You Are Mind (Radio Version) (2012)
  • Time Slips Away (Radio Version) (2012)
  • Good Times (2005)
  • Danny Vera & Toni Willé - Heart Half Empty (2003)
  • Benny Neyman & Toni Willé - What If I Say Goodbye (2001)
  • Benny Neyman & Toni Willé - Two Piña Coladas (2001)
  • Benny Neyman & Toni Willé - Oh, How I Miss You Tonight (1999)
  • Love in a Heat Wave (Sound Track for Motion Picture 'De Flat') (1994)
  • The Major Dundee Band & Toni Willé - It Turned out to be You (1990)
  • Good Year for the Roses (1989)
  • Incredible You (1989)
  • The Writing on the Wall (1989)
  • Drift Away (1989)
  • Sweet Music to my Soul (1987)
  • What do you do to Me (1987)
  • Out of Reach (1986)
  • Every Beat Of My Heart (1985)
  • Hungry Nights (1985)

Compilations - Pussycat feat. Toni Willé

  • De Top 10 Van: Pussycat feat. Toni Willé (2011)
  • Hollands Glorie: Pussycat feat. Toni Willé (2001)
  • 25 Jaar Na Mississippi: Pussycat feat. Toni Willé (2001)
  • The Very Best of Pussycat: Pussycat feat. Toni Willé (1996)
  • The Collection & More: Pussycat feat. Toni Willé (1994)

Albums - Pussycat

  • Pussycat - First Of All (1976)
  • Pussycat - Souvenirs (1977)
  • Pussycat - Wet Day In September (1978)
  • Pussycat - Simply To Be With You (1979)
  • Pussycat - Blue Lights (1981)
  • Pussycat - After All (1983)

Television Interviews

Year Titel
2013 Good afternoon Limburg
2013 TVL HoogstPersoonlijk met Toni Willé
2012 Pussycat Documentary
2011 Ellermanns Morning Show
2007 Dennis Jones & Pussycat - The making of Mississippi
1994 Pussycat Documentaire (Single Luck Part 1, 2, 3)

Music Charts

Toni Willé Music in the Dutch Charts[17]

Date Position Titel Weeks
25/12/1999 49 Neyman & Willé - Oh, How I Miss You Tonight (Single) 5
31/03/2001 78 Neyman & Willé - American Duets (Album) 2

Pussycat Album in the Dutch Charts[18]

Date Position Titel Weeks Label
24/03/2001 26 25 jaar na Mississippi 7 EMI
06/06/1981 10 Blue Lights 15 EMI
17/04/1976 4 First Of All 21 EMI
14/05/1977 6 Souvenirs 8 EMI
05/11/1994 60 The Collection & More 3 EMI
23/09/1978 16 Wet Day In September 7 EMI

Pussycat Singles in the German Charts[7]

Date Position Titel Weeks Top 10 Label
26/01/76 1 Mississippi 32 21 EMI
06/04/76 1 Mississippi * 16 8 EMI
12/04/76 24 Mississippi (dtsch) 8 -- EMI
19/04/76 6 Georgie 24 16 EMI
21/04/76 14 Mississippi (dtsch) 6 -- EMI
05/05/76 8 Georgie * 16 4 EMI
07/07/76 18 Georgie (dtsch) 2 -- EMI
27/09/76 9 Smile 27 6 EMI
30/09/76 22 Smile * 8 -- EMI
15/12/76 10 Ein Altes Lied 8 2 EMI
07/02/77 41 Ein Altes Lied * 2 -- EMI
17/04/77 41 My Broken Souvenir 2 -- EMI
18/04/77 22 My Broken Souvenir * 10 -- EMI
16/08/77 13 Abschiedssouvenir 4 -- EMI
21/12/77 38 If you ever come to Amsterdam 6 -- EMI
01/09/78 9 Wet Day in September 10 -- EMI
15/09/80 46 Doing La Bamba 2 -- EMI

*=Airplay Charts

See also

References

  1. ^ IMDb. "Biography for Toni Willé". woodyanders.
  2. ^ "Biography by Amy Henson". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 1 April 2009.
  3. ^ Golden, Oldies. "Toni Willé (Pussycat)".
  4. ^ GITLIN, ALEX. "Pussycat". Alex Gitlin.
  5. ^ Dutch Charts. "Pussycat Singles".
  6. ^ Official Charts Company. "Pussycat Singles".
  7. ^ a b c d "Pussycat". Gerd Kehren.
  8. ^ a b c Tsort. "Pussycat Singles".
  9. ^ Golden Oldies. "Toni Willé (Pussycat)".
  10. ^ The Voice of Pussycat, Toni Wille. "Toni through the Years".
  11. ^ a b IMDb. "Biography for Toni Willé".
  12. ^ Willé, Toni. "Fantastic Stories (feat. The Voice of Pussycat)". iTunes.
  13. ^ Wille, Toni. "World's United". iTunes.
  14. ^ Wille, Toni. "Impressions". iTunes.
  15. ^ "Toni Wille, Voice of Pussycat -Golden Memories-Tour Fiji 2010". 2010.
  16. ^ a b The Voice of Pussycat, Toni Wille. "News Articles".
  17. ^ Dutch Charts. "Toni Wille Single and Album".
  18. ^ Dutch Charts. "Pussycat Album".

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