Herman van Doorn

Herman van Doorn (1963, Rotterdam) studied music in the United States and the Netherlands. He became a teacher at the Conservatory of Utrecht as well as releasing his own compact discs. He performs the Dutch translation of theme songs for the worldwide television phenomena Pokémon. He sings in the languages Dutch, English, French, Spanish and German. Music has always been a part of his life. When he was six years old his idol was French singer Michel Fugain. Because the albums of this singer were rarely sold in Herman's home country (the Netherlands) he had to use a tape recorder to record the songs from television. Unavailability eventually caused him to lose his interest in the French singer for some years. While his interest in Michel Fugain decreased, his passion for music only grew. Next to his main language (Dutch) he masters the languages English, French, Spanish and German. He is mainly active as background singer and in ensemble groups. He forms the ensemble Voice Lab with Annemarie Maas and his sister Ineke van Doorn. In 1988 his Voice Lab reaches national attention in the Dutch radio program "Coupe Soleil" and in 1989 in the Dutch television program "Reiziger in Muziek". In the winter of 1989 he graduates at the Conservatory of Utrecht. His sister Ineke also releases her own albums under the alias 'Vandoorn', including "The Question is Me" (1994), "President for Life" (1996), "Four Brothers" (1999), "Love is a Golden Glue" (2000), "Uncovered" (2002), "Dawn" (2006) and "Low Tide" (2007). In 1994 Herman releases the ensemble album "Caoutchouc plays Garcia Lorca" with fellow singers Sylvia de Hartog and Astrid Wijn in the Spanish language. His first solo album "For What You Are Is Never Seen" is released in 1999 in the English language. Manuel Dunkel performs the saxophones, Sid Hille plays the piano, Ari-Pekka Antilla performs the bass and Teppo Mäkynen plays the drums. On 7 November 1999 he performs the song "She is Always a Woman to Me" in the Dutch television program "C-Majeur". In 2000 he provides the voice for the character Booster in the Dutch dubbing of Disney's animated movie "Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins" and in 2001 he does the same for the character Tramp (Dutch: 'Vagebond') in the Dutch version of Disney's animated movie "Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure". The year 2001 marks the release of his second solo album "Movin" again in the English language. Sid Hille performs the piano, Manuel Dunkel plays the saxophones, Teppo Mäkynen performs the drums, Ari-Pekka Antilla plays the bass and Ed Verhoeff performs the guitar. After two solo albums his popularity and the diversity of his career reach a new level. He is asked to perform the theme song for the internationally praised animated television series "Pokémon" in the Dutch language. His contribution becomes so popular he is allowed to do many extra theme songs. Although Pokémon is a series that internationally renews its theme song style regularly with new singers, fans in the Netherlands have successfully battled for the return of Herman multiple times over the years. With five other artists he forms the group The New York Spirit for the Christmas album "Joy to the World" in 2002. In 2005 he forms an ensemble with six other artists during the television special "Gala van het Nederlandse Lied". Between 2005 and 2011 he is a part of the ensemble 'Elysium'. In 2010 he meets guitarist Herman Onnen in France. The encounter between the two results in Herman's next solo album: "Fugain". Under the alias 'Hermanherman' he brings the songs of his classic child hero Michel Fugain in the French language, Herman Onnen performs the guitar. Between 2010 and 2014 he is a vocal coach for the musical 'Soldaat van Oranje'. In 2017 he releases a new album under the alias 'Hermanherman': "1418". The lyrics of all songs were written during or after the first World War (1914-1918) and describe the experiences of people who lived during these hard times. Herman Onnen once again performs the most recognizable instrument the guitar.