Throughout his multi-faceted career, Nick Oosterhuis has been regarded as a gifted performer, a musical virtuoso and an inspired songwriter. He has consistently demonstrated his ability to contribute his own unique touch to contemporary music.
Nick began his lifelong affair with the guitar at the tender age of 7. A few years later, he taught himself to play the piano and at the ripe age of 13 joined his first band.
As a young teenager, he played clubs throughout his native Holland. Using the Blues as his main form of expression, he gained a reputation for his remarkable ability to switch from one instrument to another with equal levels of virtuosity.
By the time he was 19, Nick, in addition to playing the piano and guitar, was perfecting the Hammond Organ, synthesizers and the flute. He formed the jazzband “Banshee“, an ELP / Softmachine-inspired experimental group. The band’s popular success led to a studio recording with Phonogram Records. This was shortly followed by an opportunity to join “Galaxis“ an art-rockband that toured Holland, France, Germany, and Britain. They performed at the legendary Cavern-club in Liverpool and made appearences at many Open-air festivals.
A reconstituted lineup featuring British singer James Wraith led to extensive touring in Britain and Holland in the 70`s. During days off, Nick did some recordings with Albie Donnely’s “Supercharge“ in Liverpool.
When “Galaxis” folded Nick had a welcome respite from the road. He concentrated on building his first 8-track studio while his former band members went onto other musical ventures. “Galaxis” founder and drummer, Ab Tamboer, joined Earth & Fire (no. 1 hit “Weekend” with Ab playing that marimba). James Wraith joined Roxy Music (to replace Brian Ferry) and later he formed “The Explorers” with Phil Manzanera and Andy McKay. Jacob van Heiningen joined “Livin Blues“.
When not recording, Nick made regular appearances on the Holland music scene including a series of jam sessions in The Hague. Demonstrating his versatility, he played with musicians from Motions, Shocking Blue, Rainbow Train, Livin Blues, Moody Sec and young Jody Pijper (Jody Singers).
In the late 70`s Nick had the opportunity to record a couple of original songs in the renown “Rainbow studio” with Jan Hollestelle on bass and Ton op `t Hof on drums.
This served as a prelude to his first solo album, We Gotta Stop Meeting Like This (1982).
The urge to perform before a live audience propelled Nick back on stage with the trio Spacebus. He toured Switzerland, Austria, Belgium and Holland. He also did some recording and made TV appearances with the Dutch rockband Lemming and singer Geo. During this period he also did some Albumrecordings in Hamburg 1980 with Spacebus featuring Monica Tjen A Kwoei (Herman Brood) and Michael Eschauzier (Shocking Blue).
In 1982, Nick recorded his first solo album, We Gotta Stop Meeting Like This under the pseudonym Chris Garner. A re-release on CD appeared 2011 under his own name, titled: The Mysterious Disappearance of Mr. Garner.. Reflecting his own talent and virtuosity, he performed with the Hamburg Philharmonic Orchestra and some of the finest German, Dutch and British musicians including Peter Weihe and Werner Becker. Later, he teamed up with Hugo de Bruin (Diesel) and Guus Willemse (Solution). Recordings of this project were released in 2015 titled “Sessions 1983”
Nicks’ agility within the music world once again became apparent when he co-founded a new recording studio just outside of Hamburg .This was in addition to his ongoing studio-gigs and stints as a sideman while touring Holland, Germany and the U.S. In 1989, he joined the hard-rock band, “Lone Age” featuring British singer Keith Ellis (album: Mama, Just Look at me now).
In 1992 Nick founded the Eject Music Publishing Company in Germany.
Through this venture Nick has been fortunate to participate in countless records (performing and/or writing) for many major artists: Bobby Kimball (Toto), Wanda Jackson, Tony Christie, Vicky Leandros ,Matthias Reim, Andrew Strong (The Commitments) and many others.)
For an overview of recordings check out the discography page or take a look at Discogs. You can find a biography in Dutch in the “Muziekencyclopedie”
Nick Oosterhuis currently resides and works near Hamburg as a musician, engineer, producer and songwriter.
