Bert De Coninck

Belgian singer, guitarist °Mechelen 1949. Lives in Portugal now with Annie Mad (mother of Jeremiah Persyn) Started his musical career at the age of fifteen playing guitar in his first band, The Hot Matches. Studied classical guitar for just one year, but learned a lot of ‘tricks’ and chords from professional guitarists. In the early seventies he spends two years ‘busking’ and fruit-picking in the south of France (Provence). Back in Belgium he recorded his first album [r858896] after winning a song contest. ‘Evelyne’, an erotic ballad from this album got and still gets airplay in Belgium and Holland. Three years later he moved to Bruges and recorded his second album ‘Crapule De Luxe’, an album with controversial lyrics and a solid rock sound. His band ‘Crapule De Luxe’ tours for three years through Belgium and Holland. Album: [r1357855]. In the nineties he travelled to Portugal and fell in love with this beautiful country, its people and unspoiled nature. He followed a four years course in Ghent to learn the language of Pessoa. Spending more and more time in Portugal, he discovered the rich culture and enchanting fado-music. He decides to move to the land of ‘saudade’ and from that moment his life and music are strongly influenced by his new environment. After the release of a ‘best of’ CD -Bert De Coninck & Jean Rousseau / Bert De Coninck & Fran- he started composing and writing again. This time his Dutch lyrics are accompanied by Latin influenced rhythms and melodies. His ‘[r8802244]’ CD, released in 2001 got very positive critics in the Belgian press but…no promotion… When he met Portuguese multi-instrumentalist [a5187660] they decided to work together, composing and recording in João’s house by the sea. This resulted in concerts in Portugal and Belgium. Spanish and Portuguese traditionals, Brazilian songs (Caetano Veloso amongst others)…Bert learns it all from Joaõ. They found a ‘third’ man in Chris Post, German keyboard-player and electronic engineer. Together they start rehearsing and home-recording Bert´s musical [r8863801].