Ede Ulfert Staal was a Dutch singer-songwriter from the Northern province of Groningen who sang mainly in Gronings dialect.
Background
Ede Staal was born in 1941 in Warffum, the son of a NSB-father (National Socialist) and a farmer"s daughter. His father worked as a teacher, and his eldest son Ede would later follow in his footsteps by becoming a teacher himself. He was inspired by his grandfather who had worked as a musical director in Leens (and grew up in Leens).
Education
He initially sang in the English language, having studied English at university.
Career
At the age of five, Staal started making music His breakthrough came in 1974 with the song "I"m in the blues". In 1981, he began singing in Gronings dialect, and became well known with the comical song (My little garden) as well as with "t Het nog nooit zo donker west" (lieutenant has never been so dark before).
One of his last songs was the emotional "Mien hogelaand" (My high land) in which Staal sang of his love for the region where he grew up.
After his death, Staal became an iconic figure in the province of Groningen. A monument was erected in his honour near Delfzijl, where he died at his farm in 1986.
His music was translated into several languages, and one of his songs, "Termunterziel" was even played in Japan.