Jonny Heykens

Jonny Heykens, Johannes Jacobus Heijkens (24 September 1884 – 28 June 1945) was a Dutch composer of light classical music, remembered above all for his jaunty Ständchen (Serenade) No.1 Opus 21.

Heykens was born at Groningen. He was taught violin by Eugene Ysaye at the Brussels Conservatory. He played in various orchestras before founding his own orchestra in Groningen in 1914. After the First World War he toured Europe and achieved great popularity, especially in Germany. Heykens composed pieces for his orchestra, plus songs and musical comedies. His records sold widely. In the Second World War, he continued touring throughout Europe. He joined the NSB, the fascist National Socialist Party of the Netherlands. He expressed racist opinions about Jews and black people and he performed at the parties of important Nazi officials. Resistance groups broadcast his famous tune with words: Sells his people and homeland for six loose cents. He died in prison in Hilversum.

In Japan the Serenade became a popular song, and so it was selected in 1943 by NHK, The Broadcasting Corporation of Japan as the signature tune of "The Evening Show for the Front Line", a radio programme to entertain serving Japanese soldiers and sailors, in spite of strenuous government efforts to dispense with Western cultural influences. After WWII, Japan National Railways (JNR) chose part of the serenade for use in its passenger cars. It is still used on some of Japan Railway (JR) trains.

Heykens' Serenade was also used during the 1940s, by Albert Sandler as the signature tune for the BBC Sunday evening radio programme "The Palm Court Orchestra at the Grand Hotel." In Germany, Heykens Serenade is the music to Loriot's comedy sketch "Schmeckt's?"