Camel with Ton Scherpenzeel

Ton with Camel, 1984

Ton with Camel, 2014

Camel is a British progressive rockband, whose debut album was released in 1973. Just like Kayak, Camel has seen band members come and go. But there is one constant factor in the band: singer/guitarist/flautist/composer Andrew (Andy) Latimer.



Around 1978, Kayak and Camel both had Janus Records as their American record company. Thus, Andy Latimer got to know Kayak's music. In 1983 he asked Ton Scherpenzeel to join Camel. Ton played on three studio albums: Stationary Traveller (1984), Dust And Dreams (1991), and Rajaz (1999). The album Stationary Traveller features one track that Ton wrote: a short instrumental called 'After Words'.

Ton can also be heard on the live album 'Pressure Points'. He played two tours with Camel: Europe 1984 and the farewell tour of 2003 (which turned out to be a 'farewell' for just 10 years...). And in 2014, he hastily stepped in for a European tour, when Camel keyboardist Guy LeBlanc was unable to perform due to illness. Ton is also part of Camel on their upcoming European tour.

Camel 2014: Jason Hart, Colin Bass, Denis Clement, Andy Latimer, Ton Scherpenzeel

Though it was a strange experience for Ton not to be the 'leader' of the band, and just play other people's compositions, he has always stated that he is very proud that he belongs to the Camel family! And it also lead to a collaboration with Camel singer Chris Rainbow on Ton's solo album 'Heart Of The Universe'. An album to which Andy Latimer also made a contribution.

Camel discography with Ton Scherpenzeel

Camel Tourbook 1984

In 2000, Kayak released the CD 'Close To The Fire'. On the track 'Full Circle', the guitar solo was played by Andy Latimer.

2003: Andy Latimer, wearing a Kayak t-shirt on stage

Live in 1984

Paradiso Amsterdam, 2003 Farewell Tour

Paradiso Amsterdam, 2014 'Retirement Sucks'-Tour

Ton Scherpenzeel on Silhouette CD

In november 2014, Dutch prog band Silhouette released their album "Beyond The Seventh Wave". Ton Scherpenzeel is credited as a guest, playing Moog synthesizer.

Last year, Silhouette singer and guitarist Brian de Graeve was a guest on Ton's solo album "The Lion's Dream". 

Edward with Tom Parker

In 1990, Edward Reekers was one of the singers in "The Commandments", a successful project of composer, producer, arranger and conductor Tom Parker. Edward was joined by his colleagues Anita Meyer, Rob de Nijs and Amy Vanmeenen. A CD was released, and quite a few TV-performances were given.

Three singles were released featuring Edward's vocals: 'Loving Only You', 'Take Me Home' and 'Sunday, Sunday'.

In Germany, Tom Parker released another CD with Edward as a singer. As a member of the 'European Sound Project', Edward sang 6 songs on the album "Das Europäische Wunschkonzert". Edward sang on Gefühle Der Nacht, Sailing, Bridge Over Troubled Water, Morgen, Michelle and Mull Of Kintyre.

For the Dutch market, the record company simply put a sticker -not in a very professional way- over the front of the booklet, changing the name 'European Sound Project' into 'Tom Parker'...

On YouTube you can find a clip of a performance on German television.

Ton (and many others) on 'Charles Darwin'

If memory serves me right, I think Ton Scherpenzeel already said something about it back in 2010, but the actual album was released in 2012: 'Charles Darwin' by French outfit XII Alfonso. This 3-CD album about... indeed, Charles Darwin features Ton on keyboards in the track 'Mysterious Illness'.

To call the Darwin-project ambitious would be an understatement; the sax in 'Mysterious Illness' is played by John Helliwell, of Supertramp-fame. But Ton and John are just two of an impressive list of guest artists. To give you an impression:

Maggie Reilly (singer with Mike Oldfield), Tim Renwick (Pink Floyd 'in concert'-guitarist), Mickey Simmonds (Fish a.o.), Ian Bairnson (guitar) and David Paton (bass) from The Alan Parsons Project, and Francis Dunnery (ex- It Bites). And many more... Not bad, eh?

Protest song...

In 2003, Dutch comedian Harrie Jekkers wrote a song against the Government of Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende. The singer was Peter Groot Kormelink, and Ton Scherpenzeel played "all instruments". Probably, it was keyboards only, trying to sound like a fanfare orchestra. Ton doesn't see this recording as a highlight in his career. In fact he sort of wiped it from his memory. Having just bought and played the single, I can understand why...

Dutch/American singer Lori Spee released her album "One Step" in 1986. The album has 10 songs, and the "Kayak-connection" is that it was co-produced by Gerrit Jan Leenders. And oh yes, every now and then an ex-Kayakmember appears:

1. One Step: Pim Koopman (drums, guitar, keyboards, backing vocals, co-produced, co-arranged), Max Werner (co-arranged), Ton Scherpenzeel (keyboards)

2. The Chain: Johan Slager (guitar), Max (drums, percussion, backing vocals, arranged), Ton (keyboards)

3. Reduced To Tears: Pim (drums, guitar, keyboards, backing vocals, co-produced, co-arranged), Ton (keyboards), Max (co-arranged)

4. Win Or Lose: Max (drums, co-arranged)

5. As Heroes: Max (drums, percussion, arranged), Ton (keyboards)

6. Two Fools In Love: Max (drums, percussion, backing vocals, arranged), Ton (keyboards)

7. Halfway: Max (drums), Ton (keyboards), Edward Reekers (backing vocals)

8. Enlightened: Max (drums, percussion, co-arranged), Ton (keyboards)

9. These Things Happen: Max (drums, percussion, arranged) Ton (keyboards)

10. Those Faces: Max (drums, percussion, co-arranged), Ton (keyboards)

Edward Reekers

Don't ever think that you have collected each and every note that Edward Reekers ever recorded. His voice can be heard on Kayak's and his own albums. But you can also hear him on many other people's songs, in cartoons, jingles, commercials, etc.. Impossible as it is to give you a complete overview, here are some rarities in which Edward was in some way involved...

In 1981, Dutch band Swan had Edward as one of the two lead singers (the other one was a girl called Joan Clauson). Also in this band: Okkie Huysdens, who worked with Pim Koopman in The President. As far as I know, Swan released only one LP: From Swan With Love.


In 2003, Edward worked on a CD that was a bonus with a Dutch Book: "The Brendan Notes" by Rob van der Linden and Gert Jan Sterk. Edward can be heard in 4 of the 18 tracks on the CD.



In 1991, Edward sang a duet with Sandra Reemer: 'Listen To The Flowers' was the title track of a CD which was dedicated to the "Floriade" flower exhibition.


Edward often lent his voice to commercials. Flowers, chocolates, sweets, you name it. In Germany, the Langnese company hired him to do a commercial for their icecream. The song "So Schmeckt Der Sommer" was released as a single in 2005, and even became a hit in Germany. The CD-single also has an English version: "The Taste Of Summer". Inspired by the success, they recorded a winter-version in 2006: "So Schmilzt Der Winter".


The series "Luister En Leer" ("Listen And Learn") was meant for children in the age of 3-6 years. With themes such as 'wild animals', 'the farm' and 'pets', the simple songs and stories tought them about animals, but also helped them with counting. Edward was the producer of the voices on the CD's, and sang the songs together with Gaby Kaihatu.


Tiger: I Can't Stop Loving You (single, 1982, written by Edward)


Maribelle: Ik Hou Van Jou / Maar Vanavond (single, 1984, b-side written by Edward)

The Cats: I'll Find My Way Back To You (single b-side, 1985, co-written by Edward)

TO BE CONTINUED...