Jack Jersey

Jack (Willem) de Nijs (Tjimahi Indonesia, 18 July 1941 – Roosendaal, The Netherlands, 26 May 1997) was a Dutch singer, composer, arranger, lyricist and producer of light music (popular music) who worked for national and international artists. As a singer he has become known under the pseudonym nl:Jack Jersey.

this Biography has been written in 1977 by EMI-Bovema Netherlands, author: unknown.

Probably one of the most successful Dutch singers is Jack Jersey. However, Jack's succes is not limited to singing. As composer and lyricist and producer he is responsible for every Hit single that comes from his own production company, J.R., (Jeetzi-Rah) which means "Creation" / "Creational world" in Hebrew. In his ten year career, Jack has written many Hit singles for other artists as well as discovering artists such as nl:André Moss, nl:Nick MacKenzie and nl:Frank & Mirella. It would be difficult to count just how many records have been sold with which Jack was, in one way or another, involved in, but it would number many millions.

Furthermore Jack's success has by no means been limited to The Netherlands.

Either himself as a singer or artists under his production are known throughout many countries.

Jack de Nijs, (Jack Jersey's real name), was born in Tjimahi on Bandung, one of the Indonesian Islands, in 1941. At the age of seven he received a Ukulele as a present, and was soon allowed to play in the local village band. It was also soon apparent that Jack was exceptionally gifted musically! In fact, one of the tracks on an extremely successful lp (album) of André Moss was written by Jack, when he was still a young boy. The song is called that Old Feeling. Even Jack admits, that as a child he felt that there was something different about him, something he called being introvert. He didn't realise that this difference was going to manifest itself through music.

In 1951 the de Nijs family moved to the Netherlands. Jack felt immediately the difference in life style, and the difference in music. However he soon adjusted, and found that he fit just as easily into the Dutch musical niche. During his highschool period he formed his first band named The Dixies Stampers, and, naturally enough, they specialised in Jazz and Dixieland.

After leaving highschool, he went to a college specialising in Hotel Management in Maastricht, nl:Hotel Management School Maastricht, and here he formed his second band, a quartet known as The Four Sweeters. The success of this group soon became regional, and by way of a local record dealer they made their first record. Unbelievable as it seemed to them at that time, the record flopped. Shortly afterwards, two members of the group split, leaving the duo Jack and Woody to continue. Soon after came Jack and the Swallows, but, strangely, success had left them for the time being. No matter how hard they worked, or what they tried, the success just would not come back. This lack of success also applied to the eleven singles that had by now been released. Jack changed the name of the band into The Loosers.

After receiving his diploma for Hotel Management (BBA), Jack gave up his aspiration to make a success of the music business. In the meantime he had married Ella and they had to live, thus Jack was forced to take a job with one of the big international hotels in the south. But the lure of music was to prove too strong. Jack decided to try once more...and this time to hang on until he was successful!

Jack decided on a new approach. The formula of success was to be a producer and composer, and work for a record company. At first reactions were not very encouraging, but after teaming up with his friend, Henk Voorheijen, they were taking on by Polydor, after Jack said: "We have come to bring you the Gold from the soutch." They were paid 500,- Dutch Guilders a month. Jack first success (hit-single) was a song called Oh...Antoinette, and after this as Jack himself admits, there was no holding him back.

However the sudden rush of succes didn't make Jack forget his own past. It is this memory of those difficult days that has made Jack one of the most reputed producers in The Netherlands. He knew from his own experience that a producer has to know his artists. How the artist works, what songs fit the artist from both live and recording points of view. Above all there has to be that bond of friendship between producer and artist.

Since those early days Jack has formed his own company; Jack was responsible for all creative matters, his friend Henk Voorheijen became his partner for business matters.

His family has also grown, and he has a son and a daughter. But at that moment Jack is so busy that his children hardly ever see him. This also effects his own stage career, because he does not have the time to make as many live appearances as his fans would like.

What is to date the high point of Jack's career?

Probably it was recording a live album in America in Nashville, Tennessee, recording studio's, RCA Studio B, with the backing of the world famous Jordanaires, Elvis Presley's own group.

The album In The Still Of The Night was released in the United States of America by Capitol Records. In The Netherlands this album was certified Platinum List of music recording certifications for more than 100.000 sold units, and the single of the same name Gold.

The one thing Jack finds a little strange is that often people compare him with Elvis, although Jack has always accepted this comparison as a huge compliment. However it has never been his intention to imitate him. His real influences were Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly and Neil Diamond. Naturally those influences appear from time to time in his music.

Jack enjoys the feeling of being an artist and enjoys still more the feeling of being an successful artist, although he knows only too well that the career of an artist is always in doubt. In Jack's case there is his production company, which owns its own recording studio, to fall back on, not that he hopes that he will ever have to do this. But as an artist you can only do your best. After that it's up to the people who buy your records. Naturally his song-writing will always continue since Jack finds this the best medium for expressing his emotions. Practically all Jack's songs are inspired either by an emotion or an event within his life. Take Papa Was A Poor Man for example, (one of Jack's biggest hit-single in the Netherlands). It was directly inspired by his memories of their days in Indonesia and of their early days in the Netherlands, during which time Jack's Papa was certainly not a rich man.

Today Jack still performes as often as possible with his backing group. He releases regularly new albums and singles. His last album Forever has become Gold, and plans are already under way for his next album Asian Dreams. To accompany the eventual release of Asian Dreams, Jack will fly to Indonesia to shoot on location the Television special that is based around the songs on this album. Its release will ensure Jack of yet another Gold LP Record for his collection, and gives Jack's public yet another collection of songs to look forward to.

Certifications

as a singer and or songwriter and or musicproducer:

• 1969
  • Gold for Oh Antoinette by Leo den Hop for more than 50.000 sold units in The Netherlands.
  • Platinum for de:Ray Miller in Germany with also the song Oh Antoinette for more than 600.000 sold units.
• 1970
  • Gold for the song Sophia Loren by de:Ray Miller in Germany for more than 300.000 sold units.
  • Platinum for the song Gina Lollobrigida by nl:Tony Bass for more than 132.000 sold units in The Netherlands.
  • Platinum and Gold for the song Gina lollobrigida by de:Ray Miller for more than 900.000 sold units in Germany.
  • Gold for the song Zuster o zuster by nl:Sjakie Schram for more than 46.000 sold units in The Netherlands.
  • Platinum for the song De Fles by nl:Jan Boezeroen for more than 96.000 sold units in The Netherlands.
• 1971

• 1972

• 1973
  • Platinum for the single One is One, EMI, by nl:Nick MacKenzie for more than 300.000 sold units.
  • Gold for the single Juanita by Nick MacKenzie, EMI for more than 100.000 sold units.
  • Gold for the single Juanita by Nick MacKenzie, EMI in Germany for more than 300.000 sold units.
  • Platinum for Ella, André Moss, Bovema.

• 1974
  • January
  • The single_(music) Don't break this heart lands in both Dutch charts and that of Flanders, Belgium.
  • February
  • Gold for the single_(music) nl:Peaches on a tree by Nick MacKenzie, EMI for more than 100.000 sold units.
  • Gold for the LP record Oei,Oei by Jan Boezeroen for more than 40.000 sold units, Bovema.
  • March
  • Gold for the LP record Ella, by André Moss, Bovema.
  • Gold for the LP record Rosita by André Moss, EMI
  • Gold for the LP record Op Losse Groeven, EMI for more than 250.000 sold units in The Netherlands.
  • April
  • Gold for the single In the Still of the Night, Jack Jersey, EMI Belgium for more than 100.000 sold units.
  • Gold for the single In the Still of the Night, Jack Jersey, EMI for more than 100.000 sold units in The Netherlands.
  • July
  • Gold for the single nl:Papa was a poor man, Jack Jersey, EMI
  • August
  • The album LP record In The Still Of The Night of Jack Jersey begins a 19-week tour of the Dutch album chart.
  • September
  • Gold for the LP record In The Still Of The Night, Jack Jersey, EMI/Bovema in the Netherlands.
  • November
  • The live-recorded single Rub it in by Jack Jersey and The Jordanaires, climbs the Dutch and Belgian charts.
  • December
  • 2nd time Gold for the LP record Rosita by André Moss, EMI for more than 50.000 sold units in The Netherlands.
• 1975
  • January
  • Platinum for the LP record In The Still Of The Night, Jack Jersey, EMI/Bovema for more than 100.000 sold units.
  • His Master's Voice for Jack Jersey, EMI.

• • March
  • "Golden Dog" alias His Master's Voice for more than 100.000 sold units for the LP record Ella by nl:André Moss, EMI. This song was also the Dutch television and radio nl:TROS-tune.
  • "Golden Dog" alias His Master's Voice In the Still of the Night by Jack Jersey, EMI, for more than 100.000 sold units.
  • 2nd time Platinum for the LP record Ella by André Moss, for more than 100.000 sold units, EMI/Bovema.
  • Platinum for the LP record Rosita by André Moss, EMI/Bovema.
  • 3rd time Platinum for the LP record Ella by André Moss, for more than 100.000 sold units, EMI/Bovema The Netherlands.

• 1976

• 1977

• 1980
  • Platinum for the single_(music) Sri Lanka...My Shangri-La, Jack Jersey, on record label Goena Goena Records, for more than 300.000 sold units.

• 1981

• 1982

• 1983
  • Gold for the single Comment ça va of The Shorts for more than 100.000 sold units.
  • Platinum for the single_(music) Comment ça va of The Shorts for more than 200.000 sold units. The single stands for five weeks at the top in the National Hit parade of The Netherlands. It is the best-selling single in the Netherlands of this year.
  • Platinum for the single_(music) Comment ça va of The Shorts for more than 1.000.000 (1 million) sold singles/units in France. EMI.
  • Receives in the same year for this international number 1-hit Comment ça va of The Shorts, EMI, the Export price , Buma Export Award of the Buma Culture Foundation, Buma Cultuur, formerly CONAMUS Foundation.
  • Also the successor Je suis, tu es by The Shorts becomes Platinum, for more than 100.000 sales. It will be a number 3 hit.

• 1989

Albums

Jack Jersey

• 1974
  • In The Still Of The Night
• 1975
  • Honky Tonk Man Jack Jersey and The Jordanaires, The American recordings
  • I Wonder Jack Jersey and The Jordanaires, The American recordings
  • A Christmas Show
• 1976
  • Sings Country
  • The Best Of Jack Jersey
• 1977
  • Forever
  • Asian Dreams
• 1978
  • Mexico Bienvenido Jack Jersey
• 1979
  • The Best Of...
  • The King and I
  • Accept My Love
• 1980
  • Sri Lanka...My Shangri-la
• 1981
  • Jack Jersey Show
• 1982
  • Dreamer
  • Live In Indonesia
• 1988
  • Close To You
• 1990
  • Golden Memories

Singles

Recorded and released as Jack Jersey or Jack de Nijs or Ruby Nash

Songs and or composed and or written and or arranged and or produced by Jack de Nijs

• • A Broken Heart With A Smile
  • Accept My Love
  • Addio Amore (Jack de Nijs)
  • After All The Years
  • After Sweet Memories
  • A Lot Of Livin' to Do
  • Al ben ik Mr. Mundy niet (Jack de Nijs)
  • All I Do Is Dream
  • Anak ini (Dari Cimahi)
  • Angelina (Jack de Nijs)
  • Anita
  • Answer Me
  • Asian Dreams
  • At The End Of It All
  • Ay ay waar blijft Maria (Jack de Nijs)
  • Baby, Can't You Feel It (Jack Jersey and The Jordanaires-live recorded)
  • Be My Little Woman
  • Bella Lucia (Jack de Nijs)
  • Blame It On The Summersun (Ruby Nash)
  • Blame It On The Summersun
  • Blue And Lonely Christmas
  • Blue Brown-Eyed Lady
  • Blue Spanish Eyes
  • Breaking Up
  • Christina (Jack de Nijs Sextet)
  • Close To You
  • Come On
  • Conny
  • Daisy Bell (Ruby Nash)
  • Dark Moon
  • Devil in disguise
  • Don't Break This Heart
  • Don't
  • Don't be Cruel
  • Du bist 'ne Lady und ich bleib' ein Vagabund
  • Eiland in de zon
  • Ein Wunderbares Mädchen
  • Forever
  • Geen poen voor Barcelona (Jack de Nijs)
  • Gelukkig kerstfeest (War Is Over) (Artists for Ronald McDonaldhuis)
  • Get Your Fun
  • Give Me Love
  • Gone
  • Gone Girl
  • Gone Girl Xmas version
  • Goodbye My Love
  • Got A Lot Of Livin' To Do (Jack Jersey & The Jordanaires)
  • Got no home
  • Happy X-mas (War Is Over) (Artist for Ronald McDonaldhuis)
  • Health of Freedom
  • Heaven in your Eyes
  • Heaven Is My Woman's Love
  • Heaven's no more heaven
  • Heavenly Woman
  • Hee dans met mij (Jack de Nijs Sextet)
  • Hé Hé Rosie (Jack de Nijs)
  • Helena (Jack de Nijs)
  • Helena
  • Hello Darling
  • Help Me Make It Through The Night
  • Here Comes Summer
  • Here i am Acapulco
  • Het spijt me voor jou (Jack de Nijs)
  • Higher Than The Mountains
  • His Latest Flame
  • Honey Babe
  • Honky Tonk Man (Jack Jersey and The Jordanaires-live recorded)
  • How Many
  • Hurry Home
  • I Can Stand Tomorrow
  • I Can't Help Thinking
  • I Can't Wait For Tomorrow
  • I Wonder (Jack Jersey And The Jordanaires-live recorded)
  • I Won't Cry
  • If You Leave Me
  • Ik kan 't niet laten (Jack de Nijs)
  • I'll Be Home On Christmas Eve
  • I'll Be Lonely
  • I'll Hold Your Hand
  • I'll Hold Your Hand (Jack Jersey And The Jordanaires-live recorded)
  • I'll Miss You (Jack Jersey and The Jordanaires- live recorded)
  • I'll Miss You
  • I'm Calling
  • In Old Mexico
  • In The Arms Of Her New Friend
  • In The Still Of The Night
  • In The Still Of The Night (Jack Jersey and The Jordanaires-live recorded)
  • Ist die Liebe vorbei?
  • It's A Beautiful Day
  • I was a fool
  • Juanita
  • Just One Time
  • Keep It In The Middle
  • Keep On Rollin'
  • Keep On Shakin'
  • Lady
  • Lean On Me
  • Let It Be Me
  • Let's Come Together Now
  • Little Snowflakes
  • Lonely Christmas
  • Lonely Linda
  • Lonely Me
  • Lonely Street
  • Love Letters
  • Love Lovin' Lover
  • Love Me Petunia
  • Love me Tender
  • Marian (Jack de Nijs Sextet)
  • Maryati
  • Mary
  • Mary Jane
  • Mary Lee (Jack Jersey And The Jordanaires-live recorded)
  • Mary Lee (Live in Indonesia)
  • Me And Bobby McGee
  • Mein Herz ist wieder allein
  • Melancholy Man
  • Merry Christmas, Sweet Memory
  • Mexico
  • Mexico, Mexico, Mexico
  • Mexican Lady
  • Mi Bonita
  • Missing You, That's What I Do
  • Moon Of The Blues
  • My Broken Memories
  • My Father's House
  • Never Ending Lonely Nights
  • Never Got No Home
  • Never Leave me Lonely
  • Nina Bobo
  • Nou, nou waar blijf je dan (Jack de Nijs)
  • No Other Love
  • No Regrets
  • Oh daar heb je ze weer (Jack de Nijs)
  • Ole Sio
  • On This Night Of A Thousand Stars
  • One Day At A Time (Jack Jersey and The Jordanaires-live recorded)
  • Only A Fool
  • Olé we gaan naar Spanje (Jack de Nijs)
  • O,O...zit het zo (Jack de Nijs)
  • Op dat eiland in de zon
  • Papa Was A Poor Man
  • Papa Was A Poor Man (Jack Jersey and The Jordanaires-live recorded)
  • Papa Was A Poor Man - Live In Indonesia
  • Pappie loop toch niet zo snel (Jack de Nijs)
  • Picture On The Wall
  • Please don't go
  • Pretend
  • Puerto de Llansa (Oh Lady Rose)
  • Ramblin' Man
  • Rub It In (Jack Jersey And The Jordanaires-live recorded)
  • Sail Me Across The Water
  • Santa Claus
  • Santa Lucia
  • Send A Little Bit Of Love (Jack Jersey and Lisa MacKaeg)
  • Sentimental Me (Jack Jersey and The Jordanaires)
  • Sentimental Me
  • Shanah
  • She Was Dynamite
  • Sheila
  • She's Not You (Jack Jersey And The Jordanaires)
  • Silent Night
  • Silvery Moon
  • Since You've Been Gone
  • Sing Me Back Home
  • Sofia Loren (Jack de Nijs)
  • Sophia Loren (Jack de Nijs Sextet)
  • Sri Lanka... My Shangri-La
  • 63784
  • Stay 'till Tomorrow (Jack Jersey and The Jordanaires-live recorded)
  • Stapel op Lou Lou (Jack de Nijs)
  • Speel mijn lied (Jack de Nijs)
  • Step Into My Heart
  • Surrender
  • Suspicious Minds
  • Sweet Dreams (My Darlin')
  • Sweet Ol' Dreams
  • Tears
  • Teddybear
  • The reasons why
  • There Goes My Everything
  • This Christmas Lore
  • This Means Goodbye
  • 'Till The End Of Time (Jack Jersey and The Jordanaires-live recorded)
  • 'Till The End Of Time
  • Tonight Is Allright For Love
  • Too Old To Believe
  • Trincomalee
  • Una Noche Mexicana
  • Vaya Con Dios
  • Viva Mexico
  • Voodoo Hits Me
  • Waktu Potong Padi
  • Was vorbei ist, ist vorbei
  • Way Down Low
  • White Christmas
  • Why Me Lord
  • Wie wunderbar
  • Woman
  • Yesterday Guy
  • You're Not Gonna See Me Cryin'
  • You're The One, You're the only
  • You're The Only Inspiration
  • You're The Only Reason
  • Zomerzon (Jack de Nijs Sextet)

His songs included:

• "Ella"" a hit for nl:André Moss 1973, covered by Duo De Jantjes 1974, Herbie en Spence in Afrikaans version of H Van Zyl, S Van Zyl 1974, and by Marco (singer).