Mariska Veres
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Mariska Veres (pronunciation ) (1 October 1947 - 2 December 2006) was a Dutch singer who was best known as the lead singer of the rock group Shocking Blue. Her appearance was striking, featuring kohl cosmetic-lined eyes, high cheekbones, and long jet black wig. She had a very powerful voice, distinct from other females, which was compared to that of Grace Slick of Jefferson Airplane. Veres liked cats. She did not smoke, drink, or experiment with drugs. When she joined Shocking Blue she made it clear to the other band members that romantic relationships were not going to happen.[1]
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[edit] Family
Veres was born in Den Haag (The Hague). Her father was the gypsy Hungarian violinist Lajos Veres; her mother was born in Germany of French and Russian parents. She frequently accompanied her father on the piano. [1]
[edit] Singing career
Veres began her career as a singer in 1963 with the guitar band Les Mysteres. She recorded several singles before joining the Bumble Bees[1] in 1965, the Blue Fighters, Danny and his Favourites and General Four in 1966, and the Motowns later in 1966. She also played organ in the last band. In 1968 she was invited to join Shocking Blue to replace lead singer Fred de Wilde who had to join the army. In 1969/1970 Shocking Blue gained worldwide fame with the hit single "Venus". The month of their arrival in the United States gossip columnist Earl Wilson referred to Veres as a beautiful busty girl.[2]
Shocking Blue split up on 1 June 1974; Veres continued in a solo career until the band was reunited in 1984. This comeback turned out to be successful, but one of the other original members, Robbie van Leeuwen, stepped back from the group, partly because he had moved to Luxembourg but also because of the success of Bananarama's cover of "Venus".
Mariska Veres joined the jazz group The Shocking Jazz Quintet in 1993 as their lead singer. From 1993 to 2006 she performed in yet another reincarnation of Shocking Blue, and also recorded an album with Andrei Şerban in 2003.
[edit] Death
Mariska Veres died of cancer on 2 December 2006, aged 59.[3] Reminiscing to the Belgian magazine Flair, she remarked about her early fame. I was just a painted doll, nobody could ever reach me. Nowadays, I am more open to people.[1]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d Mariska Veres, The Independent internet edition, Tuesday, December 5, 2006.
- ^ Earl Wilson, Delaware County, Pennsylvania Times, Monday, January 26, 1970, pg. 27.
- ^ Original Venus Singer Dies, ABC News, December 12, 2006.
