Good luck in the hospital
‘My parents gave me a guitar when I was nine and I learned to read notes at a guitar club in Amersfoort. When I ended up in hospital, I was placed in a room with twelve ladies, because I was too old for the children’s ward. They felt so sorry for me, so when I asked if I could play guitar, no one had a problem with it. They even encouraged me to sing along.’ The entire hospital was soon able to enjoy Conny’s talent. ‘The accident was on November 12, 1956 and a month and a half later, at Christmas, I drove to the chapel with my bed and everything to sing a Christmas carol and the Ave Maria. That was my first radio appearance, because the health broadcaster De Golfbreker broadcast it. I was so delighted,’ says Conny, who joined a school band in her adolescence. At the time, she was already friends with Coby van Voskuylen (The Fair Customers), who asked her if she wanted to sing in a Gooi children’s hospital. This was a great success, which led to more performances. ‘As a result, when I was eighteen, I was approached by John Kristel to sing with his orchestra – where more artists have started. I owe so much to that man.’ Through the many orchestral performances, Conny gained a wealth of experience and her repertoire became very diverse. ‘My previous classical singing lessons have also allowed me to do some beautiful things with my voice,’ she says modestly. ‘Versatile artist Dick de Witte, with whom I have been working for years, made the YouTube compilation film Conny Vink 60 Years of Singer with friends last year. When I saw that, I was amazed at what I had done.
And I still enjoy performing, especially in nursing homes and for the disabled. It’s nice to be the sun in someone’s life – even if only for a moment.’ Also private!
