Pierre Kartner

Petrus Antonius Laurentius Kartner (11 April 1935 – 8 November 2022) was a Dutch musician, singer-songwriter and record producer who performed under the stage name Vader Abraham (Father Abraham). He wrote around 1600 songs.

Early life and songwriting

Kartner was born on 11 April 1935. He started his singing career at the age of eight, winning a local festival. He lived with his family in Amsterdam and worked in a chocolate factory.

Kartner worked as a promoter and producer at a record label Dureco with Annie de Reuver, with whom he formed Duo X. He was a member of the band Corry & de Rekels, selling over one million records in the 1960s.

Kartner wrote the music for the opening and closing credits on the Japanese cartoon adaptation of the 1990 TV series Moomin and "Ik ben verliefd (Shalalie)", the Dutch entry for the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest.

Father Abraham

In 1971, Kartner created his well-known alter ego, Father Abraham, after writing a Dutch carnival song, "Father Abraham had seven sons". Initially he wore a fake beard, but subsequently grew a real beard which, along with a bowler hat, became his trademark. Also in 1971, his duet with Wilma Landkroon, "Zou het erg zijn, lieve opa" (Would it be bad, dear grandfather?), reached number one in the Dutch pop music charts.

In 1981 Kartner recorded a song about Weepuls, "Wij zijn de wuppies" (We are the Weepuls).