Tee-Set was a pop rock band formed in 1965 by singer Peter Tetteroo in Delft, Netherlands. The band is best-known for their single "Ma Belle Amie", which was a No. 5 hit in the United States and No. 3 in Canada.

The band had a number of other hit songs in the Netherlands, including the number one song "She Likes Weeds". The band underwent numerous changes in its members; the only constant was its lead singer Peter Tetteroo, who died in September 2002 at the age of 55.

History

The band was formed in 1965 in Delft, Netherlands by singer Peter Tetteroo[nl]. Other early members were Gerard Romeyn on guitar, Polle Eduard on bass, Carry Janssen on drums, and Robbie Plazier on keyboard. Their first single released in 1966 on the Delta label, "Early in the Morning", was successful in The Netherlands. The band had a top 10 hit "Don't You Leave" the same year, selling 10,000 copies in its first week of release. The band underwent numerous changes in its line-up though the years; the keyboardist Hans van Eijck[nl] joined in 1966, replacing Robbie Plazier. Romeyn, Eduard and Janssen left, to be replaced by Ray Fenwick on guitar, Franklin Madjid on bass, and Joop Blom on drums. Van Eijck also left and was replaced by Jan-Pieter Boekhoorn on keyboard (Van Eijck later returned in 1969). Fenwick then left and later reappeared in The Spencer Davis Group. He was replaced by Ferdi Karmelk. Dihl Bennink also joined the band. In 1969, Tetteroo founded their own label Tee Set Records.

The group recorded a single in 1969 titled "Ma Belle Amie", which was a hit in their native country, selling over 100,000 copies. The group released an album in the United States on Colossus Records in 1970 titled Ma Belle Amie (the single of the same name listing the artist as 'The Tee Set'), which reached No. 158 on the Billboard 200 chart, just as the single took off in the United States, eventually reaching No. 5. The single sold over 1 million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. The version of "Ma Belle Amie" released in 1970 on Major Minor records in the UK is a different studio version of the song, slower in tempo and beginning in a lower key than the hit U.S. version.

In the Netherlands, Tee Set's single "She Likes Weeds" reached No. 1 on the Dutch charts. However, the track was banned[by whom?] in the U.S. because it was said to be referring to drug use, although the title was taken from the film Funeral in Berlin. The follow-up single "If You Do Believe in Love" hit No. 81 in the US and No. 31 in Canada. The group disbanded in 1975, but briefly reunited in 1978 and 1983. Since 1983 the band was revived, although its work was mainly nostalgic "sixties".

Members

Peter Tetteroo
Hans van Eijck
  • Peter Tetteroo (vocals) (born 8 July 1947, Delft, Netherlands; died 9 September 2002 age 55)
  • Gerard Romeyn (guitar)
  • Polle Eduard (bass)
  • Carry Janssen (drums; died 5 February 2026, aged 77)
  • Robbie Plazier (Keyboards)
  • Hans Van Eijck (keyboards)
  • Franklin Madjid (bass guitar)
  • Ray Fenwick (guitar), around 1965 to 1967
  • Ferdi Karmelk (guitar)
  • Dihl Bennink (guitar, flute, banjo) (born 15 February 1948, The Hague) 1967 to 1970
  • Ferry Lever (guitar), from 1970 to 1979
  • Joop Blom (drums)
  • Jan-Pieter Boekhoorn (keyboards), from 1967 to 1969
  • Herman van Boeyen (drums, 1970)
  • Henry van der Bos (keyboards)
  • Max Spangenberg (drums, 1970-79)
  • Peter Seilberger (organ, piano)

Peter Tetteroo

Peter Tetteroo (Petrus Gerardus Anthonius Tetteroo) (8 July 1947 − 9 September 2002) was a Dutch composer, pop musician and singer born in Delft. He became known in 1966 as founder and lead singer of Tee-Set. In 1968, he had a top 10 hit with a solo album, his version of Red Red Wine. Despite a severe liver disease, Peter remained active to the end. He died at his home in Delft from liver cancer at the age of 55.

Discography

Albums

Studio albums

TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positions
NLUS
EmotionReleased: December 1966 Label: Delta8
Join the Tea SetReleased: 1968 Label: Tee-Set
Ma Belle AmieReleased: 1970 Label: Tee-Set, Colossus158
In the Morning of My DaysReleased: 1970 Label: Negram
Non-PerishableReleased: 1972 Label: Negram
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Compilations

TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positions
NL
Tee Set SongbookReleased: 1967 Label: Teenbeat
ForeverReleased: 1969 Label: Tee-Set
T-Five T-SetReleased: 1971 Label: Tee-Set
Tee Set ToppersReleased: 1973 Label: Negram
Do It BabyReleased: 1975 Label: Negram
14 Gouwe OuweReleased: 1976 Label: Negram
Golden Greats of the Tee SetReleased: 1979 Label: Bovema Negram
Tea's ReadyReleased: 1980 Label: Picc-a-Dilly US-only release
The Hits CollectionRelease date: 1988 Label: EMI
Greatest Hits – Hot NightsRelease date: 1988 Label: Corduroy
Timeless (The Best Of...)Release date: 1992 Label: Quality Entertainment
Golden ClassicsReleased: December 1993 Label: Collectables US-only release
The Best of Tee-SetRelease date: 1994 Label: Red Bullet
24 CaratRelease date: 1997 Label: Angel Air
Ma Belle AmieRelease date: 2001 Label: Neon
She Likes Weeds – CollectedRelease date: November 2011 Label: Pseudonym12
Ma Belle Amie: The AlbumRelease date: 16 December 2013 Label: Pseudonym23
MythologyRelease date: May 2014 Label: Pseudonym40
The Golden Years of Dutch Pop MusicRelease date: August 2015 Label: Universal Music58
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Singles

SingleYearPeak chart positionsAlbum
NL 40NL 100AUSBE (FLA)BE (WA)CANGERNZSASWIUS
"Early in the Morning"196627Non-album singles
"Believe What I Say"31
"Don't You Leave"98Emotion
"Please Call Me"196722Non-album singles
"Now's the Time"1313
"What Can I Do"31
"Tea Is Famous (In the Whole Wide World)"19681211Join the Tea Set
"Life's but Nothing"
"Trip Trap Door de Tulpjes" (as Tinus Plotseling)Non-album singles
"This Rose in My Hand"1617
"Mr. Music Man"196939Ma Belle Amie
"Ma Belle Amie"66343385125
"Finally in Love Again"19702622
"If You Do Believe in Love"2217423181
"She Likes Weeds"11318In the Morning of My Days
"Marie Claire" (Belgium-only release)1971
"In Your Eyes (I Can See the Lies)"9721Non-album singles
"Little Lady"191929
"A Sunny Day in Greece"201819
"Shotguns"1972161730
"Mary Mary (Take Me 'Cross the Water)"201727Non-Perishable
"Long Ago"Non-album single
"There Goes Johnny (With My Lady)"Non-Perishable
"You Bringing Me Down"1973Non-album single
"The Bandstand"19741625Do It Baby
"Do It Baby"1975132221
"Baby Let Your Hair Grow Long"1976Non-album singles
"I'll Be Lost Without Your Lovin'"1977
"Linda-Linda"1979201917
"TV Boy"1980
"Tribute to the Spencer Davis Group" (as T.E.E. Set)1983
"Rollerskater" (as T.E.E. Set)
"Hot Nights"1988Greatest Hits – Hot Nights
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Notes

External links