Heddy Lester
Hendrika Georziena Affolter (18 June 1950 – 29 January 2023), known as Heddy Lester, was a Dutch singer and actress of Jewish-Surinamese origin, best known outside the Netherlands for her participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 1977.
Heddy Lester
Fotopersbureau De Boer · Heddy Lester bij V D en Bonnie St. Clair, Noord-Hollands Archief, collectie Fotopersbureau De Boer, NL-HlmNHA_1478_15277K01_15 · CC0
- Name
- Heddy Lester
- Birth Name
- Hendrika Georziena Affolter
- Born
- 18 June 1950
- Birthplace
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Died
- 29 January 2023
- Occupation
- Singer
- Nationality
- Kingdom of the Netherlands
- Fields
- pop
- Languages
- Dutch
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Hendrika Georziena Affolter (18 June 1950 – 29 January 2023), known as Heddy Lester, was a Dutch singer and actress of Jewish-Surinamese origin, best known outside the Netherlands for her participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 1977.
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In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Heddy Lester • Birth Name — Hendrika Georziena Affolter • Born — 18 June 1950 • Birthplace — Amsterdam, Netherlands • Died — 29 January 2023 • Place of death — Amsterdam, Netherlands • Genre — * Pop • musical theatre • Occupation — Singer
Early career
Early career
Lester was born in Amsterdam. Her professional career started with Gert Balke as the duo April Shower, who had a minor hit with "Railroad Song" in 1971. Her father ran a restaurant in Amsterdam, where she met singer Ramses Shaffy, with whom she started touring. Lester launched her solo career in 1974.
Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest
In 1977, Lester's song "De mallemolen" ("The Merry-Go-Round"), with music written by her brother Frank, was chosen by a celebrity panel as the winner in the Dutch Eurovision selection. Lester went forward to take part in the 22nd Eurovision Song Contest, held in London on 7 May. Although "De mallemolen" had been considered a strong contender prior to the contest, it could only manage a disappointing 12th-place finish of 18 entries.
Later career
Later career
After her Eurovision appearance, Lester worked in a variety of both musical and dramatic stage roles, including works by Lorca (Blood wedding), Euripides (The Trojan Women) and Joshua Sobol (Ghetto). In 2009, Lester, along with several other former Dutch Eurovision contestants, was a special guest on that year's Eurovision selection television programme.
Personal life and death
Personal life and death
Lester died on 29 January 2023, at the age of 72, of bladder cancer.
With April Shower
With April Shower
• 1971: "Mama Look Upon Me" • 1971: "Railroad Song" (#30) • 1972: "It's So Funny" • 1973: "Danny's Song"
As solo artist
As solo artist
• 1974: "Friend of Mine" • 1977: "De mallemolen" (#28) • 1977: "Words Keep Turning" • 1978: "Samen"
Albums
Albums
• 1977: Deel van m'n bestaan
Identity
Identity
Heddy Lester is recorded as actress and singer.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 1 entries
2023
Heddy Lester died in 2023 at Amsterdam.
Discography
• Illustration — Lester in 1977
Literature
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reference work
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 15 August 2026.
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