1. Dutch Tilders, born Mattheus Frederikus Wilhelmus Tilders, anglicised as Matthew Tilders, was a Netherlands-born Australian blues singer-songwriter and guitarist.
26 Facts About Dutch Tilders
1. 2.
Dutch Tilders performed and released material as a solo artist and issued a blues-rock album with Kevin Borich, The Blues Had a Baby and They Called It Rock'n'Roll.
3.
Dutch Tilders was born on 29 August 1941 as Mattheus Frederikus Wilhelmus Tilders in Nijmegen, Netherlands.
4.
The Dutch Tilders family emigrated to Melbourne, Australia, in 1955 aboard the SS Fairsea.
5.
The family spent about a year at the Brooklyn Migrant Hostel, where Dutch Tilders worked at a local timber yard, before they moved to Frankston.
6.
In 1959, Dutch Tilders bought his first guitar, to be able to accompany himself when playing in cafes around Melbourne.
7.
In September 1970, Dutch Tilders appeared on TV talent show New Faces and was signed by one of the judges, Ron Tudor, to his Bootleg Records label.
8.
Dutch Tilders released his self-titled debut album in 1972 with Brian Cadd producing and backing provided by members of Chain.
9.
Dutch Tilders performed at the Sunbury Pop Festivals in both January 1973 and the following year.
10.
Dutch Tilders continues to show his remarkable talent, which has already earned him recognition from Sonny Terry and Brownie McGee.
11.
Dutch Tilders used a backing group of Conway with Bob Bertles on alto and soprano saxophones and Peter Howell on bass guitar with Lee Simmonds producing.
12.
Dutch Tilders compared it positively with work by Ry Cooder, Leon Redbone and Leo Kottke, where Tilders has "a strong faith in his music that gives blues lovers in Oz faith in him".
13.
Dutch Tilders had formed a friendship with McGhee, who considered Dutch Tilders a genuine bluesman.
14.
In September 1986, and again during the 1990s, Dutch Tilders toured with Taj Mahal.
15.
Also that year Dutch Tilders helped establish the Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society and later became its patron.
16.
In 1998 he issued his next album, I'm a Bluesman, which was produced by Hills and included guest musicians: Steven Cepron on harmonica; Winston Galea on drums; Warren Hall on piano; David Lowry on guitar; Mick O'Connor on Hammond organ; and Suzanne Dutch Tilders on backing vocals.
17.
Dutch Tilders described his concept for the latter album, "[t]he idea was to show-case what I love to do best, playing solo, without the restrictions of an ensemble".
18.
In November 2009, Dutch Tilders performed at The Bridgetown Blues Festival, in Western Australia, front-lining "The Legends" tour with seminal Australian Blues performers: Matt Taylor ; Barry "Little Goose" Harvey ; Martin Cooper ; Bob Patient.
19.
In October 2010, Dutch Tilders reunited with Martin Cooper and Winston Galea from the Blues Club to perform at the 21st annual Wangaratta Festival of Jazz.
20.
On 23 April 2011 Matthew "Dutch" Tilders died, aged 69.
21.
On 30 October 2019, Dutch Tilders was the first blues musician inducted into the Blues Music Victoria Inc Hall of Fame.
22.
Dutch Tilders's son Sonny Tilders is an animatronics artist, known for his work as a creative director for the Creature Technology Company.
23.
However, the couple separated when Sonny was a child and Dutch Tilders had little contact with Sonny during his upbringing.
24.
Dutch Tilders wrote and recorded "Going on a Journey" after learning of his diagnosis, it became the title track of his final album.
25.
On 23 April 2011, Matthew "Dutch" Tilders died, aged 69.
26.
Dutch Tilders was dubbed the "Godfather of Blues" in Australia, he is survived by two sons and four siblings.