Description
Jonny Heykens (1884-1945) was a Dutch violinist and composer of light classical music. After the First World War Heykens toured Europe with his own orchestra and achieved great popularity, especially in Germany.
Musically he is remembered above all for his jaunty Ständchen (Serenade). The piece became very popular in a diverse range of settings. For instance, in 1943 it was selected as the signature tune of The Evening Show for the Front Line – a radio programme to entertain Japanese troops. Meanwhile, in the UK it became the signature tune for the 1940s BBC radio programme The Palm Court Orchestra at the Grand Hotel.
During the Second World War Heykens joined the fascist National Socialist Party of the Netherlands and often performed at the parties of important Nazi officials. He was well-known for his racist opinions about Jews and black people and his Ständchen tune was broadcast with the lyrics “Sells his people and homeland for six loose cents” by resistance groups. After the war his past caught up with him. He was arrested as a suspected collaborator and, just weeks later, died in prison.
