Jonny Heykens

Jonny Heykens (Groningen, 24 September 1884 — Hilversum 1945) was a Dutch composer of light classical music, remembered above all for his jaunty "Serenade".

In Japan, his serenade became a popular song. First, it was selected by NHK, The Broadcasting Corporation of Japan. [This is the name at that time.] In 1943, this public broadcasting corporation made the song as the initial theme of "The evening show for the front line", the radio programme for consolate many soldiers of the Imperial Japanese Army and the Navy. After the surrender in WWII, Japan National Railways (JNR) chose a short part of this serenade, as the melody in its passenger cars. It's used for some of Japan Railway (JR) group trains still now.