Composer and conductor Harry van Hoof passed away on Saturday at the age of 81. Van Hoof became known as the conductor of many Dutch Eurovision entries. He was also a guest conductor with the Metropole Orchestra for more than twenty years.
Van Hoof’s ex-wife, singer Trea Dobbs, announced the death on Facebook on Sunday. The composer passed away in his hometown of Eindhoven.
According to Toon van Hoof, who took over Harry van Hoof’s production company in 2008, the death came “like a bolt from the blue. He was not ill and was still very much alive”. Toon van Hoof still had regular contact with Harry van Hoof, who was not related despite having the same surname.
Harry van Hoof conducted many Dutch Eurovision entries between 1972 and 1994. He was also involved in Teach-In’s victory with Dinge-dong in 1975.
As a composer, Van Hoof achieved his greatest success with the hit How Do You Do, by Mouth & MacNeal. The song from 1971 became a worldwide hit. Van Hoof wrote the song together with Hans van Hemert.
Van Hoof was also involved in the song Sophietje by Johnny Lion from 1970, in which he also plays the organ part. During his career, Van Hoof worked a lot with artists such as Rob de Nijs, Willeke Alberti and Ramses Shaffy.
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