nov 16 2024
The NPO Radio 5 Evergreen Top 1000 is the annual list of evergreens from all music decades, compiled by the listener.
The Evergreen Top 1000 can be heard Monday 18 to Friday 22 November 2024: Monday to Friday from 06:00 to 21:00. Every night you can hear the Evergreen Party with Hijlco Span & Gerja Wolf: Between 21:00 and 23:00 with live music, audience and guests.
We want to thank all the people who voted for Pussycat!
nov 15 2024
I think it’s also nice for you here, my book ‘Polderpower’ about 65 years of women in Dutch pop. With 50 interviews, historical overviews and countless photos of well-known and forgotten Dutch pop singers. Available for pre-order now and available from April at Noordboek-Van Gorcum Publishers.
Almost 50 Dutch singers from more than 65 years of Dutch pop talk candidly in Polderpower about their dreams, being discovered, success, trying to maintain it, making concessions, living in a man’s world and transgressive behavior. Provided with the necessary historical context and with the cooperation of numerous top photographers, this is a richly illustrated ode to all those strong women who climbed the stage at all costs to sing and be heard.
With the cooperation of Imca Marina, Ria Valk, Bojoura, Bonnie St. Claire, Lenny Kuhr, Astrid Nijgh, Anita Meyer, Toni Willé, José Hoebee, Angela Groothuizen, Mathilde Santing, Fay Lovsky, Lori Spee, Cherry Wijdenbosch, Jetty Weels, Frédérique Spigt, Lois Lane, Anita Doth, Trijntje Oosterhuis, Edsilia Rombley, Ellen ten Damme, Hind, Do, Berget Lewis, Roxeanne Hazes, Caro Emerald, Janne Schra, Numidia El Morabet and Tabitha.
“This musically historical book polishes that coveted, raw gem of being human: RESPECT.” – Simone Walraven (DJ)
Photo cover: Govert de Roos
Author: Tim Treffers –ISBN : 9789464712865 – Dutch – 320 pages
Publisher: Noordboek – van Gorcum
Pre order:
https://www.bruna.nl/boeken/polderpower-9789464712865
(Not yet published, expected April 15, 2025)
jul 20 2024
Lou Willé: “Hello Pussycat fans,
After corresponding extensively with English Publishers and Agencies 92 in total, we received the attention of “Austin Macauley Publishers in London”.
I can say, it took us a lot of work, but we did it.
So at the moment we have a German Publisher: Angelica Gontadse and an English Publisher with which we have signed a contract for the Pussycat Book.
Yes, Harm Peter and I are very happy that it has come to this. And we can also say that we are extremely grateful to Luud Tilly for the effort he has put into this. Especially the translation work into German and English, where he has received praise for his translation work from the German and English publishers. I cannot yet say with certainty when both books will be released.
As soon as I receive the ISBN number for the German and English book, I will announce this”.
The English version is called: Pussycat – “The Mississippi flows in the Netherlands”.
The German version is called: Pussycat — “Der Mississippi fließt in die Niederlande”.
Greetings Lou Willé
jul 01 2024
‘Mississippi, I’ll remember you …’
Oh, how we loved listening to the Dutch pop and country act Pussycat.
Betty Dragstra (72), singer from the band Pussycat, died.
Betty had been ill for quite some time. She died a few days after her 72nd birthday.
Betty formed the band Pussycat together with sisters Tonny and Marianne. They did that from a young age. The band broke through in 1975 with the song ‘Mississippi’. Betty, Toni and Marianne also achieved international success with that song. The song managed to reach the top of the charts in fifteen countries. The trio also scored international hits with ‘Georgie’ and ‘Smile’.
The band broke up in 1985. Fourteen years later, in 1999, there was a short reunion.
Betty’s funeral took place in a private ceremony.
Dear Betty,
How much we have loved each other for more than half a century. The start was not easy, we were still very young. Our little family became complete when our son Nollie was born. What a good time we had after that until now. You and your sisters have experienced a lot in the world of music. Drinking coffee at Joke. Our two great grandchildren, Lode and Siet. And their parents Pascalle and Nollie. We recently had a very nice conversation together and then hugged each other tightly. And confirmed how much we have loved each other all these years. I will never forget that moment. We also experienced such a moment in the hospital together with Nollie, Pascalle, Lode and Siet. You opened your eyes, waved at us and you hugged us all and made funny remarks.
Betty, every morning you called me around nine o’clock, until the morning it remained silent. Now we say goodbye forever and it hurts a lot.
Betty, we love you and we are going to miss you very much.
In loving memory of
* 23 June 1952 Brunssum † 28 June 2024
Dear wife and owner of
Henk Dragstra and Buddy 
Caring mother and mother-in-law of
Nollie and Pascalle
Proud grandmother of
Lode and Siet
A special thanks to all caregivers for their loving care of Betty.
We said goodbye to her in private.
Henk Dragstra
