Two chords and the expert knows…
This is not just A band. And he is right. This band is SAVANNAH, an enthusiastic group that is at the top in Europe since they started in 1986!
The five members of the band sense each other faultlessly. You can see it and you can hear it when they knock down an audience with their roots-filled Country Music. Country Music is SAVANNAH’s specialty!
It’s no wonder that SAVANNAH may see themselves as “the most popular Band in the Benelux”.
SAVANNAH is a true “band for the audience”, versatile and atmospheric!
SAVANNAH is at its best when they perform live on stage and in theaters. They have a very well filled performing schedule in their homeland and in foreign countries, in dance halls and at big festivals.
The band played in clubs, theaters and at festivals in the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Great Britain, Scotland, Danmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Poland, Lithuania, Spain, Italy and Malta.
They are also a very popular band for radio and TV stations, the band already did a lot of radio- and television performances in the Netherlands.
For many years now they are touring all over Europe with Singer / Songwriter and Grammy winner Billy Yates from Nashville USA.
Already from the start Savannah is part of the cast for theatershows "Country Road", "Country Road" II, "Somewhere Between ... american tunes" em "Somewhere Between ... american tunes" II, "Back to the Country" and "Back to the Country" II.
Savannah also shares the stage with singer/songwriter Dick van Altena (former member of Major Dundee) and Cor Sanne, THE authority in the Netherlands when it comes to Old Time Country.
Furthermore... the band is a big hit for country- and line-dance events!
Then there are, of course, the CD’s, released by the band:
1991: For You, Peter Hill Band (not available anymore).
1993: Lights in the Night.
1995: Side by Side.
1995: Alle Dromen (cd-single, not available anymore).
1997: For You (Re-release with four additonal songs).
1999: Love, me.
1999: Love, me (cd-single).
2001: New Road - Tribute to the sixties.
2002: The Best of Savannah (Collection CD 6 four additional songs).
2004: Marcel Smulders Sings The Hits Of Don Williams (Solo-album Marcel Smulders).
2004: Live at the RaboTheater (Live DVD).
2007: Joe Brozio & Friends Live (acoustic live recording).
2009: Savannah (M.O.D. Record Label release).
Highlights in Savannah’s career are the “GRAM Awards” the band did receive during several editions of the “Dutch Country Music Poll Gala Show”,
organised by the Dutch Country Music Association (DCMA), Country Gazette Magazine and KRO Radio.
SAVANNAH received a “GRAM Award” for their third CD “Side by Side”, being “Album of the Year” in 1996.
In 1998 the band received a “GRAM Award” for being “Band of the Year 1997” and since that year they have been "Band of the Year 1998”, "1999", "2000" and "2001", that is FIVE times in a row!!!.
In 2000, the new CD "Love, me" was "CD of the Year 1999" and bassguitar player Joseph van Kollenburg was "Entertainer of the Year 1999".
Johnny Bernhard, leadguitar player since 2000, received "GRAM" Awards for being "Instrumentalist of the Year 2000" and "2001".
In 2009, the band again won several DCMA Awards: "Band of the Year", "Trio of the Year" (Savannah Trio), "Show of the Year" (for the theatershow "Somewhere Between") and leadguitar player Joe Brozio won the "Instrumentalist of the Year" award.
In 2010 the Awards for "Band of the Year", "Duo / Trio of the Year", "Album of the Year" were again for Savannah and Joe Brozio got the "Instrumentalist of the Year" Award again.
And then 2011... again "Band of the Year" for Savannah and "Instrumentalist of the Year" for Joe Brozio
Unfortunately, there are always chenges in a band's member, that's no different for Savannah.
At the end of 2006, leadguitarist Johnny Bernhard left the band and his place was taken by Joe Brozio from Germany.
In september 2011, Joe had to give up his place in the band, due to health problems and after eleven years of absence Peter van de Heuvel, the man that founded the band in 1986, returned to his position in the band as leadguitarist.
In 2006 the place of Savannah's first bassguitar player Joespeh van Kollenburgh was taken by Bob Willemstein.
In 2010 Bob had to give up his position because it was not longer possible to combine the band with his (still growing) musicschool in Eindhoven.
In march 2006, Karel Fransen left the band after 11 years an gave the "drummers torch" to Johan Lemmers.
SAVANNAH... still on top in the Europe and therefore a guarantee for quality!
No wonder, if you shared the stage with artists like Billy Yates, Georgette Jones, Johnny Cash, Freddy Fender, Allen Frizell, Buck Owens, Bellamy Brothers, Wanda Jackson, Ruud Hermans, George Baker, Grant and Forsyth, Dick van Altena, Cor Sanne and so on.
