Dave, born Wouter Otto Levenbach, is not just a simple performer of timeless hits like Vanina or Du côté de chez Swann. Behind his dazzling career lies a complex man, marked by deep pains and bold choices. On November 17, Dave was a guest on the show Un dimanche à la campagne. He shared intimate confidences. These revelations shed new light on his extraordinary journey.
A Bright Childhood Shattered by a Secret
Born in 1944 in Amsterdam, Dave spent an idyllic childhood in a peaceful village near the capital. Dave is the son of an English teacher and a former classical dancer.
They provided him with a cocoon of serenity.
Music was also an important component of his environment. As a young boy, he dreamed of becoming a pastor, nurtured by strong values and a daily life he describes as "harmonious and protected". But at 16, a chance discovery upends his life. While looking for a bulb for his motorcycle, he makes a surprising discovery. He finds letters revealing an affair.
This affair is between his father and the housekeeper. This moment turns his world upside down. The young Dave, troubled, confronts his father, who asks him to keep the secret. For a time, he remains silent. But the day his mother learns the truth, the family rupture is inevitable.
"I heard my mother scream. Everything collapsed. My father left with her."
The scars left by this episode will never fully heal. Dave questions a tragedy. He wonders about its impact on his mother’s health. His mother had a fragile health. Years later, she dies of cancer.
The Rise of a Resilient Artist
Despite this fracture, Dave turns to music in the 1960s. Dave is driven by a quest for fulfillment. He leaves the Netherlands. He settles in France. It is there that he records his first songs.
Success comes in 1974 with Vanina, an adaptation of Del Shannon’s Runaway, which propels him to stardom.
The beginnings, however, are not without sacrifices or bewildering experiences. With disarming honesty, he recounts periods where curiosity and necessity pushed him into extreme situations.
"I was paid to make love. At the time, I wanted to understand what it would provoke."
These episodes do not define his identity. They rather illustrate the complexity of a man. This man is ready to confront all facets of life.
Dave overcomes obstacles. He establishes himself as a major figure in French chanson. With more than 15 million records sold, his longevity is rare in a demanding field.
Love as an Anchor
Since 1971, Dave has shared his life with Patrick Loiseau, his lyricist and partner. Their relationship, discreet but solid, spans decades, at a time when displaying such a union was still a challenge. Their marriage in 2019 seals an exceptional story of love and complicity.
"We have been together for 53 years," Dave proudly emphasizes, a symbol of rare fidelity in the show business world.
An Inspiring Light
Dave, at 80 years old, recently had an accident. He has recovered well. His intact energy and disarming authenticity are preserved.
Dave’s confidences are not just a look at the past. They also represent a testimony of resilience. Moreover, they express his gratitude in the face of trials.
Behind the artist’s shine, there is a man. This man has wounds, but they have never stifled his joy of living.
Through his words, he delivers a precious lesson: cracks, far from being weaknesses, can become strengths. A poignant and inspiring portrait, reflecting his life.