Complete bio of Renée and the Alligators
1958-1959
In 1958 René Nodelijk started one of the first ever Dutch rock n’ roll bands; they were called Rockin’ Sensation Boys. That same year he came third in a national Elvis Presley competition. René was part of the group until September 1959, when he and the band members split up due to differences of opinion. The band members claimed the name Rockin’ Sensation Boys and René decided to set up The Alligators – a name inspired by the famous hit ‘See You Later Alligator’ from Bill Haley and his Comets. The band was made up of René Nodelijk as singer/guitarist, Hans Emmerik as guitarist, Ton Schattelijn on piano and clarinet (all three came from the Dutch Royal Academy for Music) and Richard van der Kraats on drums. Two weeks after coming together the band won a national talent show in Vlaardingen with their debut performance. On the initiative of the organizer, during their second performance The Alligators appeared as René and his Alligators.
1960
At the beginning of 1960 Hans Emmerik and Ton Schattelijn were replaced by rhythm guitarist Ton van de Graaf and bass player Pim Veeren. In the summer René made the first recording for CNR under the name of René and his Alligators. René played guitar and a group of studio musicians together with a whole string section of an orchestra provided the rest of the music. The vocals of René were recorded separately in a Rotterdam church in order to get the