Maria Berendina Johanna Telgenkamp, known professionally as Mieke Telkamp, was born on June 14, 1934, in the Netherlands. She began her career as a singer in the early 1950s and achieved initial success with her cover of “Here in My Heart” in 1953. Her breakthrough came when she won first prize, the 'Golden Gondola,' at the Venice Festival in 1957. Telkamp released several recordings during this period, including “Morgen komm’ ich wieder” (1953). She also had notable hits such as “Never on Sunday” and “Changing of the Tides.” In 1962, she participated in Eurovision Knokke. Telkamp's career spanned over five decades, during which she released numerous albums including Liedjes Van Hoop En Vertrouwen (1971). Her most popular song was the 1971 Dutch version of “Amazing Grace”, titled “Waarheen, waarvoor”, which sold over one million copies. In 1978, Telkamp was knighted in the Royal Order of Oranje Nassau. She made her final public appearance on March 10, 2011, and passed away on October 20, 2016, at the age of 82.
