Brian Bijlhout

Dutch-Surinamese singer and songwriter, born 1968 in Paramaribo, Suriname. Son of Theo Bijlhout. He moved to Amsterdam, Bijlmer, The Netherlands in 1992. He began his music career singing soul songs on late night television shows in the Netherlands, also releasing albums with Surinamese versions of popular songs. In 1993 he reached the finals of the Soundmixshow talent competition. In 2012 he won the "The winner is.." game show on channel SBS6 where he won the prize money of €1 million. There is a statue of him in the Bijlmer, and also on the Onafhankelijkheidsplein (independence square) in Paramaribo. President Desi Bouterse awarded him the "Commandeur in de Ere-Orde van de Gele Ster" medal, the highest honor awarded to citizens of Suriname.