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Photo of Dave

Dave

Actor, Additional CreditsBorn May 4, 1944 (80 years)
Wouter Otto Levenbach (born 4 May 1944), known as Dave, is a Dutch Francophone singer who had a string of number one hits in France in the 1970s. A native of Amsterdam, he resides in Paris.

Dave was born in Amsterdam. His father was Jewish and an English teacher by trade; his mother was a classical dancer. He has two brothers, Marteen and Lucas, and a sister, Elsbeth. He learned to play the guitar at age 14. He became a very spiritual person who prayed frequently and even planned to study theology; however, he eventually chose to study law.

Among other things, he was inspired by Jack Kerouac's On the Road , a revolutionary novel which encouraged young people to leave home and learn life "on the road", and to communicate with others. Passionate about the sea and rivers (a love which he owes to his grandfather), he left the Netherlands by boat with 1,000 guilders in his pocket (about two months' living expenses).

He met Eddie Barclay, the executive for Barclay Records, in Saint-Tropez in 1968; Barclay was responsible for launching Dave's career in show business.

On 26 February 1969, he participated in the Nationaal Songfestival, the Dutch pre-selection contest for that year's Eurovision Song Contest with a song called "Niets gaat zo snel", but did not win. In Summer 1969 he reached the Dutch Top 40 charts for the first time with "Nathalie", peaking at No. 28.

From 1971 to 1974, he was one of the actors in the musical Godspell, making friends with actor Daniel Auteuil, who would become his best friend.

In 1974, he released his first hit "Trop Beau", a French adaptation of The Rubettes' hit "Sugar Baby Love"; later, he released "Vanina", his first number one single in France, an adaptation of Del Shannon's "Runaway", adapted into French by Patrick Loiseau. These were followed in 1975 by the three hits "Mon cœur est malade", "Dansez maintenant" and "Du côté de chez Swann".

His self-titled first album was released at the end of 1975. By that time, he did not only have great success in France and Belgium, but also in his country of origin the Netherlands, where "Dansez maintenant" was a number 1 hit in the top 40 and "Du côté de chez Swann" made the top 10 too.

His later hits included "Lettre à Hélène" (1978), "Comment ne pas être amoureux de vous" (1978) and "Allo Elisa" (1979).

In the 1980s, his popularity waned following the advent of FM radio in France. He still had an audience due to live performances and his classic hits. However, he himself likened the ebb to a "crossing of a very pretty desert". In 1993, he released a new album, then in 1994, he made a comeback following the release of a greatest hits album, which sold more than 200,000 copies. He later recorded a new album entitled Toujours le même bleu, which included a title single from which enables him to hit the charts once again. It is also around this time that he came out as homosexual. ...

Source: Article "Dave (singer)" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.

Filmography

2022
2021
CHANSONS! (TV Series) · as Self
2020
Matthijs Keeps On Going (TV Series) · as Self
2020
2018
The Secret Song (TV Series) · as Self
2018
Passage des Arts (TV Series) · as Self
2017
Je t'aime etc... (TV Series) · as Self
2015
Je m'présente, je m'appelle Daniel · as Self (archive Footage)
2014
Monday in Stories (TV Series) · as Self
2013
A Song for Mama · as Dave
2012
17e Sans Ascenseur (TV Series) · as Self
2011
Choccywoccydoodah (TV Series) · as Himself
2010
The Twelve Strokes of Noon (TV Series) · as Self - Guest
2010
It's Only TV (TV Series) · as Self
2010
Top Chef (FR) (TV Series) · as Self - Guest Jury
2009
C à Vous (TV Series) · as Self
2009
2007
Don't Forget the Lyrics! (FR) (TV Series) · as Self
2006
Salut les Terriens (TV Series) · as Self - Guest
2006
France's Got Talent (TV Series) · as Self - Jury
2006
Ce soir (ou jamais !) (TV Series) · as Self
2006
On n'est pas couché (TV Series) · as Self
2006
Hold on to Your Seat! (TV Series) · as Self
2005
La fête de la chanson française (TV Series) · as Self
2003
20h10 pétantes (TV Series) · as Self
2003
La méthode Cauet (TV Series) · as Self
2002
The Eurovision Song Contest · as Self - French Commentator
2001
Star Academy (TV Series) · as Self
2001
The Eurovision Song Contest · as Self - French Commentator
2000
L'invité (TV Series) · as Self
1999
Superlove · as Self
1998
Le plus grand Cabaret du monde (TV Series) · as Self
1998
Blague à part (TV Series) · as Self
1998
Roll on Sunday (TV Series) · as Self
1998
We Can't Wait for Next Sunday (TV Series) · as Self
1998
Tout le monde en parle (TV Series) · as Self
1998
Domino Day (TV Series) · as Self - French Host
1998
1994
Les enfants de la télé (TV Series) · as Self
1994
1990
Barend en Van Dorp (TV Series) · as Self - Chansonnier
1990
Fort Boyard (TV Series) · as Self
1985
Today (FR) (TV Series) · as Self
1982
Champs-Elysees (TV Series) · as Self
1979

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