Pierre Kartner
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- "Father Abraham" redirects here. For the Jewish patriarch, see Abraham.
Pierre Kartner is a Dutch musician who sings under the alias Father Abraham. He was born on April 11, 1935 in Elst.
[edit] Biography
Kartner started his singing career at the age of eight, by winning a local festival.
Together with the band Corry & de Rekels, they sold over 1 million records (LP's) in the 1960s.
He created his well known alter ego, Father Abraham, after writing a Dutch Carnaval song, called 'Father Abraham had seven sons'. He at first used a fake beard, but a real beard replaced this, and would remain as his trademark.'
With Wilma Landkroon he sang in 1971 'Zou het erg zijn lieve opa' (number-1-hit in Netherlands).
In 1975, he scored his second biggest hit, 'Het kleine café aan de haven'. This song was also covered over 30 times in various other languages (e.g. in French, German and English), including memorably (though slightly renamed) 'The Red Rose Café' by The Fureys.
In May 1977, Kartner was asked to make a promotional song for an animated movie, which turned out to be about The Smurfs. The record company pressed 1,000 copies, since they where unsure about the success of the single. However, they were all sold within one day at a Schlager festival. After a repress, 400,000 singles where sold in a short period. A full Smurfs album (LP) was then created, which also climbed the charts, with 500,000 sold copies. People in other countries also started to notice the catchy tune, and it was released in a several dozen countries, in German, French, Italian, Spanish, Swedish, and Japanese, all sung by Kartner himself. He scored a number one hit in 16 countries.
Altogether, his 'Smurf' works have about 30 million sold copies (albums + singles).
Kartner continues to be musically active.
[edit] Trivia
In 1979 the pop impresario Jonathan King scored a minor hit single under the pseudonym Father Abraphart and the Smurps entitled 'Lick a Smurp for Christmas (All Fall Down)', a parody of Father Abraham and the Smurfs. The title of the song referred to the fact that some Smurfs toys had been painted using lead paint, and that young children had been falling ill from placing them in their mouths.
