BILL BOGAARDT has been part of the Canadian music scene for many years. Born in the Dutch East Indies (Island of Java) from Dutch parents, Bill arrived in Canada in 1957. He started his musical career in Edmonton, Alberta, performing in musical theatre and drama. For a number of years Bill performed as a solo entertainer, but then founded the musical Pop group, The Brothers Bogaardt. As their popularity grew, the Bros Bogaardt toured across Canada, the U.S. and Europe. They performed at the International Flower Show in Amsterdam (the Netherlands); performed at the Canadian Forces Base in Lahr, Germany; performed in Kansas City, Missouri, as well as being featured on CBC Radio & TV,(Winnipeg & Edmonton), The Tommy Banks Show, in Edmonton, Radio KRO, Hilversum, (Netherlands) and countless live venues, where they received numerous accolades from packed houses to standing ovations.
Bill wrote the main theme for a Government of Alberta film documentary entitled: "Alberta on the Northside",directed by Ken Jubenvill (of "Beachcombers" fame), and produced by C.N. Ross (Alberta Gov't) and William D.(Bill) Marsden of Canawest-master Films Ltd. Songs written for the Documentary were; "The Summerwind Song" as the main theme written by Bill, and "So much yet so little" by brother Ben.
Both songs were recorded in Nashville, Tenn., with arrangements by Don Tweedy, who has received Emmy awards for the International hit, "Ode to Billy Joe" and "Honey".
"Alberta on the Northside" won the Gold Camera Award in Chicago, Ill., by the U.S. Industrial Film Board for best Industrial film in North America. The movie competed against 500 entries from 20 countries. In the words of the producer, C.N. Ross; "The original music by Bill & Ben Bogaardt was one of the major contributing factors to the judges' decision in granting the award to "Alberta on the Northside".
Additionally, Bill also received an award for "best musical score" for his musical compositions for the Syncrude film, "Time of the Tarsands"
Several years ago, Bill produced a CD with his brothers, entitled "Brother to Brother", featuring 10 original songs, still available on CDBABY.COM/BrosBogaardt.
Sadly, in 2009, his brother Ben passed away after a long battle with cancer,followed by the passing of their mother, Alida Louise Bogaardt in December of the same year. A book, written by their mother, entitled "Dark Skies over Paradise" recounts the horrifying experiences by Bill, Ben and their mother, in the Japanese Prisoner of War camps, during the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies, which they survived, while thousands did not.
Bill is currently the sole survivor of the book.
Today, Bill, on his own, is continuing the family legacy, and will be releasing a CD featuring original songs he has written. Featured on this playlist are: "The Essence of You", "What If", "I Do Believe in You", and "She's my Lady Love".
Keen interest in Bill's music has been shown from people in Nashville and Los Angeles, however, Bill's main objective is to continue to write and produce original music for release on the radio, the Internet, for Film & TV or for other artists.
Bill records in his own studio, in Penticton, B.C.,Canada, under his own Publishing Company, Songsearch Music International Co. Ltd., using Protools as the platform in the recording studio.
He still performs actively, as a single, but spends most of his time in the studio creating new songs and ideas for international release via the Internet. (http://reverbnation.com/billbogaardt
e-mail: songsearchmusic@shaw.ca