- Franciscus Henri
Infobox musical artist
Name = Franciscus Henri
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Franciscus Henricus Antheunis
Born = Birth date and age|1947|8|7|mf=y
flagicon|NetherlandsThe Hague ,The Netherlands
Died =
Instrument =Voice ,Guitar
Occupation = Musician, Songwriter, Children's entertainer
URL = http://www.franciscushenri.com
http://www.misterwhiskers.comFranciscus Henricus Antheunis, professionally known as
Franciscus Henri (born7 August 1947 ), is an internationally known musician and children's entertainer. He is Dutch born. He has dual Dutch/Australia n nationality. He performs as himself and also as his alter-ego Mister Whiskers, a travelling singer who loves children and performs for them with his dog companion, Smiggy.History
Born in
The Hague , The Netherlands, Henri came to Australia in 1956, where he finished schooling and became a qualified secondary arts and craft teacher. He toured with poetSydney Carter in 1972, then left teaching in 1973 to join theMonash University Theatre company as a set designer, actor and musician.In 1975 he toured throughout
Australia andNew Zealand with the English comedianSpike Milligan .Franciscus Henri Productions Pty Ltd was formed in that year, and began producing performances throughout Australia in conjunction with state arts councils.Henri was a member of the original cast of the "
Shirl's Neighbourhood " Television show, presenting his own segments as himself and, as an early alter-ego, "Professor Henri".Henri also wrote and presented a series of programs and adds for the Victorian Christian Television Association.He also appeared on the Q7 program filmed in
London ,England .In 1997 he started performing to children as his new character, MISTER WHISKERS ["Herald Sun", May 19th, 1997] , and released his first album under his new
moniker , "Hello MISTER WHISKERS", which was nominated for the Best Children's Album Aria Award [http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history-by-artist.php?letter=F&artist=Franciscus%20Henri ARIA Awards 2007 : History: Winners by Artist ] ] .He has performed across the globe, including festivals such as: the Vancouver International Children's Festival [Raffi, (1998). "The Life of a Children's Troubadour: An Autobiography", Homeland Press] and
Port Fairy Folk Festival (seven times) [http://www.portfairyfolkfestival.com/index.php?section=9&pid=200
http://www.portfairyfolkfestival.com/index.php?section=9&pid=201
http://www.portfairyfolkfestival.com/index.php?section=9&pid=201
http://www.portfairyfolkfestival.com/index.php?section=9&pid=202] ; and (as MISTER WHISKERS) is the only performer to have played at everyWarrnambool "Fun 4 Kids Festival" since its inception 1998. He has also performed in Singapore a number of times with theSingapore Symphony Orchestra .From 1989 to 2002 he was a recording artist for ABC Music (ABC for kids), as well as a creator and producer of cover designs, for his own and other releases.
He is the writer of the popular song 'Ducks Like Rain' a cover version recorded by Canadianentertainer
Raffi His most recent work is "Nothing Fixed or Final", the words and music of
Sydney Carter , as performed by Henri [ [http://www.stainer.co.uk/carter.html Stainer & Bell: Sydney Carter ] ] . He has presented it through out Victoria and recently in Boston USA. In London UK. he performed in theSydney Carter memorial concert(Oct 2007)He has so far received seven ARIA award nominations for his various recording work.
Franciscus is also an exhibiting painter.
Discography
Releases on Vinyl
Releases on CD
Videos/DVDs
*"OH NO ! It's The Franciscus Henri Video"
*"I'm Hans Christian Andersen"
*"Hello MISTER WHISKERS!"
*"My Favourite Nursery Rhymes"
*"Sing a Song in Singapore"References
External links
* [http://www.franciscushenri.com Franciscus Henri Homepage]
* [http://www.misterwhiskers.com MISTER WHISKERS Character Homepage]
* [http://www.abc.net.au/rn/arts/ling/stories/s1354214.htm A transcription of an interview on ABC Radio National regarding Nothing Fixed or Final]
* [http://www.youtube.com/FranciscusHenri Franciscus Henri on YouTube]Persondata
NAME=Antheunis, Franciscus Henricus
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Henri, Franciscus
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Musician and children's entertainer
DATE OF BIRTH=August 7 ,1947
PLACE OF BIRTH=The Hague ,Netherlands
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=
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