Cor Aaftink

Cor Aaftink mainly gained fame as a producer of many BZN hits, but has an enormous track record in the Dutch music industry.

He started in 1955 at Philips Phonographische Industrie, where, as label manager at Bovema, he was responsible for the contract with The Tielman Brothers, among other things. Between 1966 and 1977 he worked at Bovema. In 1977 he started Bovema, with Roy Beltman, who died in 2005. Together they were responsible for the long-lasting success of BZN, first with Negram, later with Bovema/Bovema. In 1994 (some sources say 1997) he started a new independent music label: Bovema with partner Danny Nicolay.

Aaftink and Beltman, as lyricist and composer respectively, were also responsible for hits such as 'Pierrot' and 'Bonnie Kom Je Buiten Spelen' by Bonnie St. Claire. As A&R manager, Aaftink was involved in the success of George Baker Selection and Nico Haak, among others, and wrote the Dutch lyrics for the winning Eurovision Song Contest song of 1982: 'Ein Bisschen Friede' van Nicole. 'Een Beetje Vrede' reached the first position in the Dutch hit parades that year.

Cor Aaftink stopped working at the end of September 2009. He died on 1 Jan. 2010.