Johnny Lion

Lion started his musical career in 1959 as singer of Johnny and his Jewels, later named The Jumping Jewels. as well as top 10 hits with "Africa" (No. 8) in 1963 and "Irish Washerwoman" / "Java" (No. 9) in 1964. Lion left the band in 1965 to focus on a solo career. He had two hit singles: "Sophietje" (No. 5) in 1965 and "Tjingeling" (No. 14) in 1966. He had two further minor hits in the 1980s, first the title song of the 1983 film Brandende liefde, and "Alleen in Dallas" in 1988. He also collaborated with Rob de Nijs in Circus Boltini. Boltini was Lion's second wife Mariska Akkerman's uncle. ==Journalism==

In the 1990s he wrote columns for weekly-magazine Panorama. ==Acting==

Lion acted in the 1998 film Siberia and in 2003 he had a minor role in Van God Los. ==Personal life==

He was married twice. Lion suffered from Alzheimer's disease and lung cancer in his final years, and died in January 2019. ==Discography==

Singles With The Jumping Jewels As a solo artist ==References==