Overview
- The death was announced on the website of his Leuven musical-instrument store, and no cause was disclosed.
- He wrote the melody for “E viva España” with original Dutch lyrics by Leo Rozenstraten as a commission for the Belgian singer Samantha.
- Manolo Escobar recorded the Spanish adaptation “Y viva España,” which became a widely recognized popular anthem.
- Sylvia Vrethammar’s 1974 UK version stayed on the singles chart for 39 consecutive weeks and sold about one million copies.
- He was named an honorary citizen of Madrid and received a Culture Ministry medal, which reports say was later stolen on his return to Belgium.