Bert Ruiter was a Dutch bass guitarist, composer, arranger, and record producer. He played with Focus from 1971 to 1978 and with Earth and Fire from 1978, contributing to major Dutch progressive-rock and pop recordings. He later produced artists including Jerney Kaagman, Youp van ’t Hek, Renée, and Future World Orchestra, while also advocating for performers’ rights.
Background
Albertus Clemens Ruiter was born on November 26, 1946, in Amsterdam and grew up in Hilversum. He began playing guitar by ear at the age of twelve and later changed to bass guitar, entering the Dutch pop and rock scene during the 1960s.
Ruiter developed within the Netherlands’ expanding beat and pop culture, which connected local bands, studio musicians, concert performers, and emerging record companies. His early work with several groups gave him practical experience before he joined nationally and internationally recognized ensembles.
Career
Ruiter began his professional career in 1966 when he replaced Dick Ankersmit as bass guitarist for The Caps, a group associated with singer Hans van Hemert and guitarist Roy Beltman. He subsequently played with Fullhouse and the Jay-Jays, and also performed with Angelflight Railways, Punky’s Dilemma, and Long Tall Shorty & the Spectacles. For one season he accompanied singer and performer Herman van Veen, whose work combined popular music with theatrical performance.
In September 1971, Ruiter replaced Cyril Havermans as bassist of Focus. Focus was one of the Netherlands’ leading progressive-rock groups, known internationally for the instrumental and vocal music of Thijs van Leer and guitarist Jan Akkerman. Ruiter remained with the band until its dissolution in 1978 and played on recordings including Moving Waves, Focus III, Hamburger Concerto, Mother Focus, and Ship of Memories.
In November 1978, Ruiter joined Earth and Fire as bassist. The band, fronted by singer Jerney Kaagman, was a major Dutch pop-rock act whose hit “Weekend” reached number one in the Netherlands. Ruiter remained associated with Earth and Fire through its 1983 breakup and later participated in a renewed version of the group from 1987 to 1990.
After Earth and Fire’s activities diminished, Ruiter increasingly worked as a producer, arranger, and composer. He produced or collaborated with artists and groups including Jerney Kaagman, Future World Orchestra, the Polle Eduard Band, Renée, Choice, Circus Custers, Ton Scherpenzeel, Hanny, Afslag 12, Rob Janszen, Youp van ’t Hek, and Henk Westbroek. In 1999 he briefly reunited with Thijs van Leer and Hans Cleuver in a new Focus formation that also included guitarist Menno Gootjes.
Alongside his music career, Ruiter worked for the professional interests of Dutch pop musicians. He was a co-founder of BV Pop and participated in advocacy that contributed to the introduction of the Dutch Neighbouring Rights Act in 1993 and the development of Sena, the organization that collects and distributes neighbouring-rights payments for musicians and producers. He later served in representative and administrative roles connected with the Ntb and Sena.
Ruiter contributed bass guitar to Focus during the group’s internationally recognized progressive-rock period from 1971 to 1978, including recordings that helped establish the band’s reputation outside the Netherlands.
As a member of Earth and Fire, Ruiter performed on the group’s successful Dutch pop recordings, including the number-one hit “Weekend.”
Ruiter helped establish BV Pop and advocated for neighbouring rights and improved professional protections for Dutch pop musicians, contributing to changes that benefited performers and producers.
Ruiter developed a substantial second career as a record producer and arranger for Dutch artists, including Jerney Kaagman, Youp van ’t Hek, Renée, and Future World Orchestra.
(Focus album featuring Ruiter on bass guitar after he join...)
1971
Hamburger Concerto
(Focus studio album featuring Ruiter as bassist and contri...)
1974
Gate to Infinity
(Earth and Fire album featuring Ruiter as bassist and comp...)
1977
Membership
Ruiter participated in professional organizations representing Dutch pop musicians and performers. Through BV Pop and the Ntb, he supported collective advocacy for stronger contractual, financial, and neighbouring-rights protections. His work was connected with the establishment and development of Sena, which administers payments for the public use of recorded music.
Co-founder and board member.
BV Pop
,
Netherlands
1985
Board member and advocate for professional musicians.
Ntb
,
Netherlands
Active member in professional advocacy for musicians.
FNV Kiem
,
Netherlands
Member of the Raad van Aangeslotenen representing performing musicians.
Sena
,
Netherlands
2017
Personality
Ruiter was described by colleagues and local commemorators as patient, calm, humorous, and personable. Accounts of his later life also emphasize his involvement in supporting Jerney Kaagman and his commitment to the professional interests of musicians.
Interests
Ruiter was involved in professional advocacy for musicians’ rights and in local civic concerns in Blaricum.
Music & Bands
Ruiter’s professional musical world included Dutch pop, progressive rock, studio production, and live performance. His recorded work connected the progressive-rock sound of Focus with the pop-oriented repertoire of Earth and Fire and with later production projects.
Connections
Ruiter was the longtime partner of singer Jerney Kaagman, the lead vocalist of Earth and Fire. They worked together on Earth and Fire projects and on Kaagman’s solo recordings, with Ruiter serving as producer and arranger. They remained partners until his death in Blaricum on March 24, 2022, from esophageal cancer.
Partner:
Jerney Kaagman
Singer and lead vocalist of Earth and Fire; Kaagman and Ruiter were longtime partners and collaborated on Earth and Fire and solo music projects.
Collegue :
Thijs van Leer
Musician and founder of Focus who worked with Ruiter during Focus’s 1970s period and in the group’s 1999 reunion.
Collegue :
Hans Cleuver
Drummer who worked with Ruiter in Focus and in the group’s 1999 reunion.
References
NOS Nieuws obituary of Bert Ruiter
Reports Ruiter’s death, early musical development, work with Herman van Veen, Focus, Earth and Fire, and later production and arranging.
2022
Earth and Fire biography of Bert Ruiter
Documents Ruiter’s birth and upbringing, early bands, membership of Focus and Earth and Fire, production work, and death in 2022.
Ntb memorial for Bert Ruiter
Describes Ruiter as a co-founder of BV Pop, a former Ntb board member, and an advocate for the Dutch neighbouring-rights system and Sena.
Ruiter received the Sena Icoon distinction for his long-standing contribution to neighbouring-rights advocacy and the professional position of performing musicians.
Ruiter received the Sena Icoon distinction for his long-standing contribution to neighbouring-rights advocacy and the professional position of performing musicians.
