The Deep River Quartet and the Netherland's Vocal Harmony Legacy

The Deep River Quartet and The Netherland’s Vocal Harmony Legacy

By Charlie Horner With contributions from Pamela Horner (In memory our friend, Dick Rietveld) One such singer was a 17-year-old Dutch high school student with a deep voice, named Siebe Vink. In 1968, he was invited to sing bass for the Jordan River Quartet. Sy had first heard the Golden Gate Quartet’s recording of “Shadrach” at a neighbor’s home and quickly developed an “unremitting passion for this un- precedented swinging music”. Golden Gate Quartet bass Orlandus Wilson’s vocal interpretations became an inspiration for Sybrandus to follow. In fact, Sy took the stage name “Sybrandus” Finck in honor of the Gates’ “Orlandus”. The Jordan River Quartet members were all high school students in Huis ter Heide, in the central Netherlands. For three years the group sang Gates’ influenced spirituals. When leader Ben van de Wijngaard left in 1971, Sybrandus started his own group called the Deep River Quartet. Members included three former The Deep River Quartet, 2005 members of the Jordan River Quartet; Eric Suyderhoud Left to right: Sybrandus Finck, Bryan (first tenor) Otmar Kortram, (second tenor) and Sybran- Sporkslede, Ace Vincent, Dick Rietveld. dus Finck (bass), along with newcomer Ton Eykelen- boom (baritone). Though the music we love originated from Afri- In the early years, the Deep River Quartet’s rep- can American spirituals, the United States has no mo- ertoire consisted only of African American spirituals nopoly on great vocal harmony. and gospel songs. As with many American quartets, the With its unique blend of vocal harmony, the Deep River Quartet began singing in church. By 1972 Deep River Quartet evolved into one of the premier en- tertaining ensembles in Europe. The Netherlands-based group, whose career has spanned more than 40 years, was equally adept at vocal interpretations of Jazz, Spiri- tuals, R&B and Soul classics. With 22 albums to their credit, the Deep River Quartet not only sang all over the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Switzerland, but also appeared in Great Britain, Indonesia, India, Singapore and the Dutch An- tilles. They’ve been favorites at the North Sea Jazz Fes- tival and the Isle of Bute Jazz Festival in Scotland. One of their TV specials received the highest rating ever awarded to a musical program, in the history of Dutch television. The origins of the Deep River Quartet are tied the European music scene of sixty years ago. As rock & roll music took hold in the United States in the 1950’s, more traditional African-American quartets found ref- uge in the European audiences who were still receptive to their singing. The Golden Gate Quartet, Ink Spots, Delta Rhythm Boys, Deep River Boys and Mills Brothers all toured Europe regularly with some even relocating there. As their popularity declined in America, these groups found huge audiences and respect in Europe. They also influenced the birth of new European vocal Picture sleeve from the Deep River Quartet’s first single, groups, singing African American spirituals and 1940’s “I Don’t Want To Set The World On Fire” style quartet songs. (From the Classic Urban Harmony Archives) 12 the Deep River Quartet had won first place in a number of important talent contests in The Netherlands. These were followed by television appearances and national recognition. In 1972, the Deep River Quartet made their first recordings for the Fontana label, an album of spirituals titled “My Lord What A Morning”. It was followed a couple years later by the album, “Get Right With God” on the Free label. Second tenor Otmar Kortram had been the first to leave the Deep River Quartet, quitting to join the clergy in the United States. Baritone Ton Eykelenboom also left for the USA, to work in the music industry. The quartet’s second record was made in 1976 with a new line-up: Eric Suyderhoud first tenor, Kees Hendriks second tenor, Peter Mouthaan baritone and Sybrandus Finck bass. In 1979. Eric Suyderhoud left the group. [In 1983, Eric joined another popular Dutch spiritual group, the Jaffo Gate Quartet.] His replacement in the DRQ was a fine young tenor named Dick Rietveld. “I first heard the Mills Brothers when I was a little boy,” recalled Dick Rietveld when asked about his early influences. “My parents were fans. They played The Deep River Quartet picture sleeve records by the Mills Brothers, Ink Spots and Platters. To “Slap That Bass” My parents didn't understand a word of English, but (From the Classic Urban Harmony Archives) they sang the songs phonetically. My mother had a fine voice and her greatest joy was singing ‘Till Then’. I never heard of the Golden Gate Quartet before I joined strictly gospel at that time. We found each other by con- the Deep River Quartet. I remember, at the audition, we stantly repeating the chorus of 'Oh Happy Day' from the could hardly find one song to sing together. They al- Edwin Hawkins Singers, which had been a chart hit here ready knew I could sing, but they wanted to check the a few years earlier. I got the job!” blending of our voices. You know. I could sing 'Paper With Dick Rietveld’s influence, the Deep River Doll', ' Into Each Life' and 'Nevertheless', but they sang Quartet broadened its repertoire to include secular songs. “In 1981 we decided to enlarge our songbook with the Mills Brothers’, Ink Spots’ and Deltas’ repertoire,” said Dick. “We made transcriptions of the songs, and by playing the records over and over. We learned to do it.” “Songs by the Ink Spots, Mills Brothers, Deep River Boys and Delta Rhythm Boys became an inex- haustible source of inspiration,” Sy added. “In 1986 we got the opportunity to perform in Denmark,” recalled Dick Rietveld. “We did an open-air concert at the Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen, where the Mills Brothers once played. I remember walking around the auditorium a couple of times hoping to find some Mills Brothers traces. It was kind of ‘sacred ground’ to me - very special. I really admire the Mills Brothers. They where the originators. Thanks to them we could make a living singing.” Baritone Peter Mouthaan soon left the Deep River Quartet to study guitar in Amsterdam and was replaced by Walter Byker. With members now concen- trating solely on the quartet, the Deep River Quartet went professional. The 1981 line-up: consisted of Dick Rietveld first tenor, Kees Hendriks second tenor, Walter Byker baritone and Sybrandus Finck bass. Sy also played bass and Byker played guitar. In 1982, the Deep River Quartet released their The Deep River Quartet picture sleeve first vinyl single on their own D.R.Q. label. “I Don’t To “Swing Is The Thing” Want To Set The World On Fire” featured Dick’s strong (From the Classic Urban Harmony Archives) tenor lead, emulating the Ink Spots’ Bill Kenny. 13 venues throughout Europe. They were backed by a tal- ented group of musicians who toured with them, including Eric van der Luit (piano), Inigo Grimbergen (drums), Erik Robaard (bass) and Joop Lumiej (guitar). The Deeps were managed by Sy’s wife Roelie who dili- gently worked to find the group first class bookings. Through the 1990’s and first decade of the 21st Century, the Deep River Quartet issued a number of great albums on CD, including “Portrait,” “Bright Side Of The Road,” “The Best of the Deep River Quartet,” “Hark The Herald Angels Sing.” They also released two DVD’s, “Christmas in York” and “Live At The Green Pa- vilion”. All contain great renditions of spirituals, rhythm & blues, gospel, soul, jazz and traditional vocal group harmony songs. The Deep River Quartet personnel remained The Deep River Quartet, ca. 1990’s. constant until 2002 when Placido Hazel went solo. His Left to right: Sybrandus Finck, Placido Hazel, replacement was Gene Alexander. Alexander was him- Dick Rietveld, Ace Vincent self replaced by 35-year-old Bryan Sporkslede in 2005. (Courtesy of Sy & Roelie Vink) “I was born in Surinam, raised in the Nether- lands,” said Bryan. “I was already singing at the age of With the Deep River Boys now firmly estab- seven, going from door by door for some cookies. Sing- lished in Dutch show business by 1983, they signed with ing became serious fun to me when I won a singing con- Sky/Telstar Records, where they would record for the test in high school. From that point on, I’ve sung in sev- next eight years. The label was owned by Dutch singer eral cover bands and I learned to play the guitar, the and composer, Johnny Hoes, and featured mostly Dutch piano and bass guitar as well. After high school I stud- artists. ied the singing of jazz music at the Hilversum Conserva- In late 1983, the Deep River Quartet released tory in the Netherlands. After my studies I sang in an their first single for Sky Records, “Swing Is The Thing”. acappella group and several cover bands. Singing in The The record made the Dutch Top 4o charts, reaching #17 Deep River Quartet gave me the opportunity to sing in 5 weeks on the charts. It was quickly followed in 1984 beautiful songs from the heart, with great singers and with the group’s next LP, “Real McCoy,” of which great musicians and for even greater audiences than I “Swing…” was the first cut. The album was a mix of ever dreamed of.” Brian also continued to work as a spirituals and songs made famous by the Mills Brothers, vocal teacher. Ink Spots and Four Knights. Near the end of 1984, the In October of 2005, the Deep River Quartet group released a Christmas album for Sky Records, “I’ll traveled to the United States to sing at Pam & Charlie Be Home For Christmas”. The group would become Horner’s wedding reception. The day before the wed- known for their Christmas season tours. ding, the Horners brought the group to Jim Bakay’s Over the next five years, the Deep River Quartet would record three more albums and eight more singles for Sky/Telstar Records. They maintained their suc- cessful mix of Golden Gate Quartet spirituals and tunes from the Ink Spots, Mills Brothers, Deep River Boys, Red Caps and Delta Rhythm Boys. In 1989, Kees Hendriks left the group for a solo career, the Aruba born Placido Hazel joined the Deep River Quartet. Hazel had been a soul singer at the Antil- les and had sung with Los Alegres for 13 years. In addi- tion to a superb voice, Hazel brought with him an enter- tainment factor. Another change in personnel happened in 1996, when Walter Byker left the quartet. After an exhausting search, Amsterdam-born Ace Vincent, whose family roots were from Surinam, was added as the new second tenor. Ace had previously toured as a back up vocalist for singers Candy Dulfer, Jan Vayne and Gerard Jolling as well as lead for the group, the Band Stand. Ace’s soulful voice gave the Deeps an added dimension, The Deep River Quartet, ca. 2004. the ability to mix some dramatic R&B ballads into the Left to right: Ace Vincent, Dick Rietveld, repertoire. Gene Alexander, Sybrandus Finck. By then the Deep River Quartet were packing (Courtesy of Sy & Roelie Vink) them in at theaters, churches, jazz festivals and other 14

Left: The Deep River Quartet performing at Pam & Charlie Horner’s wedding, 2005. Right: The Deep River Quartet and Solitaires with Pam & Charlie.

Left: The Deep River Quartet with Pam & Charlie at Jim Bakay’s WRDV radio show. Right: Charlie & Dick Rietveld.

15 WRDV radio program, where they sang live over the air. The wedding reception also featured a live performance by the Solitaires. Those were the Deep River Quartet’s only concerts in the United States. In 2006, the Deep River Quartet released the CD, “Old Skool Harmony”. The songs ranged from “Joshua Fit The Battle Of Jericho” to “60 Minute Man” to “Bring It On Home To Me”. 2008 saw the Deep River Quartet performing songs in tribute to the great Dutch folk singer, Robert Long. The group was planning a joint tour with Long, but he died before the tour could happen. The group also released a CD of the songs, called “Swing Long”. Bryan left the Deep River Quartet in November 2013. His abrupt departure left the group in search of a new singer and for a while they were rehearsing with someone new. However, in April 2014, Sy Finck an- nounced that after 43 years, the Deep River Quartet would retire from singing. Sy had been the guiding force of the Deep River Quartet from the beginning. The news was followed seven months later with the passing of the group’s extraordinary tenor, Dick Rietveld. Dick died on November 8, 2014 at the age of 58, after suffer- ing a severe brain hemorrhage. For 43 years, the Deep River Quartet thrilled audiences across Europe with their unique mix of spiritual, R&B, pop, jazz, gospel and soul harmony. Perhaps the group’s greatest compliment came several years ago from the singer the Deep River Quartet admired most. Orlandus “Dad” Wilson, legendary bass singer for the Golden Gate Quartet, said, “The Deep River Quartet? Oh yes, I’m aware of them. I think they’re fantastic!”

16 Deep River Quartet Discography Discography

45 RPM Singles Albums

D.R.Q. 33 Pray For The Lights 1982 Fontana 6391 039 My Lord What A Morning 1972 I Don’t Want To Set The World On Fire Free 3043 Get Right With God 1978

Sky 4044 Swing Is The Thing 1983 Sky 24007 Livin’ In A Memory 1983 Juke Box Saturday Night Fontana 824 610 Swinging The Spiritual 1983

Sky 4155 Mr. Paganini 1984 Sky 24009 Star Spangled Rhythm 1984 Say Something Sweet To Your Sweetheart Sky 24010 Real McCoy 1984

Sky ???? Star Spangled Rhythm 1985 Sky 14997 I’ll Be Home For Christmas 1984 Address Unknown Sky 24012 Live Jubilee 1986

Telstar 10012* Live Jubilee 1986 Sky 4358 Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall 1985 In The Shade Of The Old Apple Tree Sky 24013 Best Of Swinging & Singing 1988 Telstar 10064* Best Of Swinging & Singing 1988 Sky 4480 Slap That Bass 1986 Telstar 100.7172* Merry Christmas To All Of You 1990 Ol’ Time Spiritual Sky 24016 Shine On 1991 Sky 4550 Pork Chops & Gravy 1987 Telstar 11004* Shine On 1991 Choo Choo Ch’Boogie Polydor 519 061-2* Portrait 1993

Sky 4620 Roses Of Picardy 1988 Marlstone 9629* As Time Goes By 1996 Standing By The Bedside Universal83089* Bright Side Of The Road 1998

Sky 4656 Margie 1988 Telstar 105052* De Jaren 90 Hits 1998 When The Moon Goes Down Mercury 546 877-2* Best Of The Deep River Quartet 1999

Sky 4695 On The Sunny Side Of The Street 1989 Mercury 546 875-2* Hark The Herald Angels Sing 1999 If I Didn’t Care DTM 2300-2** Christmas In York 2004

Sky 4792 Opus One 1991 DTM 1844-01*** Live At The Green Pavilion 2004 For You My Love [w/Astrid Seriese] Deep River 2300-02* Old Skool Harmony 2006

CD Singles Cool Tracks* Swing Long 2009

Cool Tracks* Christmas In Concert 2010 Universal ??? Bright Side of The Road 1998

Ev’ry Time I Feel The Spirit All vinyl LP’s except

* indicates CD

** indicates DVD All recordings made in the Netherlands for Dutch *** indicates CD & DVD record labels. All singles came with picture sleeves.

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