Ad Vanderveen is a singer/songwriter and guitarist whose star has been rising over the European and American musical landscape throughout the past decade. Although born a Dutchman (Hilversum, 1956), half of his family are Canadian and that may be one of the reasons why his music is firmly rooted in a style nowadays known as Americana.
His early musical influences were 60s Rock & Roll bands and the classic singer/songwriters from the 70s. Vanderveen played guitar and wrote songs from age 14 and played in many R & R bands before founding his own band Personnel in the early 80s. After 2 LP's the band recorded "Personnel Only", their breakthrough cd, for Polydor Records. The follow-up album "Continuing Stories", recorded in Nashville and produced by BillHalverson, featured guest appearances by Al Kooper, Flaco Jiminez, Al Perkins and Leland Sklar.
Ad decided to leave the band to focus on his work as a solo artist in the early 90s. Since then Vanderveen has produced an impressive body of work, consisting of 11 solo cd's and several side projects, like with his garage band "The O'Neils" and with Eliza Gilkyson and Iain Matthews in "More Than A Song".
Ad Vanderveen's music is often described as colorful and rich in dynamics, ranging from intimate acoustic to full on electric improvisation. His highly acclaimed records and excellent reputation as a live performer are spreading, both in the old world and the new.
"Ad Vanderveen sings with understated but real emotion. He is an inventive guitarist. He writes with true poetic sensibility. Yet he never sings or plays to merely show off. His music has an honesty and humility that is remarkable".
Singer/songwriter David Olney, Nashville 2003
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"Ad asks the big questions in his lyrics, and goes for the big love in his life and the large melodies in his music. He leaves out the extraneous notes on his guitar and avoids musical overstatement in his songs .... What remains is what counts: the essence of the music, the pure feel, the arrow to the heart".
Singer/songwriter Eliza Gilkyson, Austin 2002
"AV's songs are life itself. No hidden agendas and no punches pulled. He has both the love and adoration of his growing army of convertees and the unwavering respect of his peers".
Singer/songwriter Iain Matthews, Amsterdam 2001
Discography;
With Personnel : On Strike (1983); Off The Record (1986); Personnel Only (1990); Continuing Stories (1992)
With Iain Matthews : The Iain Ad Venture (2000)
With More Than A Song : More Than A Song (2001 Europe/2003 USA); Witness (2003); DVD Witness (2003)
Solo : Travel Light (1993); Sooner Or Later (1994); Brand New Everytime (1995); Wonders Of The World (1997); The O'Neils (1998); Here Now (2000); One On One (2001); The Moment That Matters (2003); Late Bloomer (2004); DVD: Late Bloomer Adventures (2004); Fields Of Plenty (2005); Cloud Of Unknowing (2006).
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Extended biography by Arthur Wood (Folkwax)
