Who is Pierre Kartner? Musician who composed iconic 'Smurf Song' dies at 87
BREDA, NETHERLANDS: Dutch musician Pierre Kartner, who performed under the stage name Vader Abraham has died at the age of 87, on November 8 and was buried on Friday, November 11, as per a spokesperson of his family. Kartner has enjoyed fame with his worldwide hit songs and was considered among the most successful artists in the history of Dutch Top 40.
Also known as Father Abraham, Petrus Antonius Laurentius Kartner began to earn popularity after he released his 1977 song 'Au pays des schtroumpfs' aka the 'The Smurf Song'. Based on the blue gnomes, 'The Smurf Song' rapidly peaked at number one in the Top 40 and went on to become a global hit, selling 18 million copies.
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Born in Elst, Gelderland, Kartner received a request to write a promotional song for 'The Smurfs' in May 1975, some reports say. The record company unsure about its potential initially only pressed 1,000 copies of 'The Smurf Song'. However, they were all purchased in a single day. Following the repressing, a whole Smurfs album was made, which sold 500,000 copies of it. The album was released in a number of nations and languages, including France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, and Sweden. In 16 nations, the album achieved the top spot on the charts. Together with the dance group Dynamite, Vader Arbaham recorded 'The Smurf Song' in 2005.
Kartner has also written around 1600 songs, apart from being a composer and producer which has earned him 127 gold records, as per Euro Weekly. The other early hits of Kartner are 'Father Abraham had seven sons' which became his trademark apart from 'Zou het erg zijn, lieve opa' ('Would it be bad, dear grandfather?') and his second biggest hit, 'Het kleine café aan de haven' ('The little café by the harbour'). Karter leaves behind his wife, Annie and son, Walter, as per the news outlet.
Many are getting nostalgic on social media for the beautiful happy songs and childhood memories he gave them as tributes flow in. “I hope that somewhere in that little cafe on the harbor, with people who are right there, you have breathed your last, Father Abraham. Thank you for your many beautiful happy songs and childhood memories. RIP Pierre Kartner,” a person wrote on Twitter. "Sometimes, when someone dies it hits you harder than you would have thought. Pierre Kartner (vader Abraham) is one of them. Still remember the words of his songs he sang when I was young. R.I.P. dear Pierre," tweeted another.
Ik hoop dat je ergens in dat kleine café aan de haven, met mensen die er gelijk en trevee zijn, je laatste adem hebt uitgeblazen Vader Abraham. Dank voor je vele mooie vrolijke liedjes en jeugdherinneringen. R.I.P. Pierre Kartner pic.twitter.com/zJk2tZSLoE
— Richard de Mos 💚💛 (@RicharddeMos) November 11, 2022
Sometimes, when someone dies it hits you harder than you would have thought.
— sonja de clippeleir (@clippiespain) November 11, 2022
Pierre Kartner ( vader Abraham) is one of them.
Still remember the words of his songs he sang when I was young.
R.I.P. dear Pierre. pic.twitter.com/5DrhlgNDZv
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