He studied Latin philology at the University of Leuven and became a translator at the Flemish public TV channel afterwards.

[1] He was a contestant during the musical talent show Ontdek de Ster in 1962, where he performed the song "Mijn Koningskind".

[2] He released a few EPs, but later, under influence of Bob Dylan, Jacques Brel and Georges Brassens, changed his style to more introspective, poetic and socially conscious lyrics.

[2][4][5] Johan Anthierens, who had a radio show about chanson, protested the ban by not playing the record on the air, but reading its lyrics for the listeners.

Despite his success, the singer still chose to end his musical career in 1973, and returned to his former profession as translator for the Flemish public TV channel.