100 years later, Johnny Jordan is still an indispensable part of his old neighborhood

He would have been 100 years old today: The King of Life Song, Johnny Jordan. Although he died in 1989, Johannes Hendrikus van Mosscher, as Johnny was actually called, is still alive to this day.

The singer became known for his ballads such as Bij Ons in de Jordaan, Geef Mij Maar Amsterdam and Een Pikketanussie, songs that are still sung regularly in Amsterdam cafés. Together with Jan De Bie, organizer of the Jordaan Festival, and folk singer Davy Pendervoet we enter the Jordaan. They stand proudly in front of the statue of the popular singer. “Johnny has always stayed true to his music in Amsterdam,” Bendervoet says. “He also had a real sigh and that's what matters,” says DB. The Jordanian continues: “What he sang is a story.”

Love for Westertoren

Davy is an expert when it comes to old Jordanian singers. From an early age, he learned the songs of Mank Nellis, Tanti Lane, and especially Johnny Jordan. It stands proudly in Westertoren, one of Johnny Jordan's great loves. “He sang dozens of songs about Westertoren. The song that made him famous was 'Jordan's Pearl'. So Wester was very important to Johnny.”

New generation

De Bie notes that the new generation is also enjoying the works of the famous singer from Jordan. “I notice at the Jordan Festival, where we have the Jordan Band, that a lot of young people know all the songs and stay on their feet.”