Ekseption

In 1958 the school band The Jokers is formed in Haarlem. Members are Hans Alta (bass), Rein van den Broek (trumpet), Tim Griek (drums, he was the producer for the first Brainbox album, he died in a car crash in 1988) and Huib van Kampen (guitar/saxophone). The play covers of well known songs. In 1965 the name is changed to Incrowd. In 1967, the name has already changed to Ekseption because there is another Dutch band with the name Incrowd. The band is also joined by Rob Kruisman, who becomes the new bandleader. Later that year Rick van der Linden (keyboards) joins the group. Van der Linden is a classically trained musician who finished Conservatory and has played with several jazz- and popgroups, one of them was the Occasional Swing Combo. They meet each other, because both bands play at the same gig. Rein van den Broek is impressed by the playing of Rick van der Linden and asks him to join Ekseption. In 1968 the band enters the Loosdrechtse Jazz Concours and wins the first prize. As winners they win a record deal with Phonogram. So at the end of the year Ekseption is about to record their debut album with producer Tony Vos. By this time Hans Alta and Tim Griek are replaced by bass guitarist Cor Dekker (he died in 2005) and drummer Peter de Leeuwe. As a first single Beethoven's The Fifth is chosen and it becomes an instant hit for the band. The follow up singles Rhapsody in Blue and Air become big hits as well. Because of this chart success Rick van der Linden becomes the new bandleader. In 1969 Rob Kruisman leaves the band because he is not happy with the new musical approach. Shortly after that co-founder Huib van Kampen also leaves the band (he dies in 2003). He left the music business, and became a music teacher