George Baker Selection
George Baker Selection was a pop-rock band originating from Assendelft, Netherlands, known for its significant contributions to the genres of Palingsound, Nederpop, Nederbeat, pop rock, and soft rock. The band was active in two main periods, from 1967 to 1978 and from 1982 to 1989. Initially called Soul Invention, the group was founded by Henk Kramer and played soul music covers. In 1968, Hans Bouwens, who later adopted the stage name George Baker, joined the band. The band changed its name to George Baker Selection after recording their first album in 1969, marking a shift from soul to pop-rock music.
Their debut single, "Little Green Bag," became an international hit, reaching No. 16 on the Cash Box magazine chart and No. 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, selling over one million copies and earning a gold disc. The band achieved further success with the 1975 single "Paloma Blanca," which topped charts in multiple countries and sold more than seven million copies worldwide, making it one of the most successful Dutch singles ever. Despite their success, the band disbanded in 1978 due to mounting pressure but reformed in 1982 for another seven years.
The George Baker Selection sold over 20 million records globally, released twelve albums, and several compilation albums. The band experienced a resurgence in popularity when "Little Green Bag" was featured in the 1992 film Reservoir Dogs and a 2013 smartphone commercial. The band included members such as Henk Kramer, Jacques Greuter, Jan Visser, George Thé, Jan Hop, Martin Schoen, and Lida Bond.
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