Biography
Franciscus Henricus Antheunis, professionally known as Franciscus Henri (born 7 August 1947), is an internationally known musician and children's entertainer. He is Dutch born. He has dual Dutch/Australian 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.
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 poet Sydney Carter in 1972, then left teaching in 1973 to join the Monash University Theatre company as a set designer, actor and musician.
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In 1975 he toured throughout Australia and New Zealand with the English comedian Spike 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, and released his first album under his new moniker, Hello MISTER WHISKERS, which was nominated for the Best Children's Album Aria Award.
He has performed across the globe, including festivals such as: the Vancouver International Children's Festival and Port Fairy Folk Festival (seven times); and (as MISTER WHISKERS) is the only performer to have played at every Warrnambool Fun 4 Kids Festival since its inception 1998. He has also performed in Singapore a number of times with the Singapore 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 Canadian entertainer Raffi.
His most recent work is Nothing Fixed or Final, the words and music of Sydney Carter, as performed by Henri. He has presented it through out Victoria and recently in Boston USA. In London UK. he performed in the Sydney 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
1970 A side: "MARY AND ME", B side: "WERE YOU THERE – WERE YOU EVER"
1971 A side: "ALL I WANT" (F.Henri), B side: "SONG FOR JENNY"
1972 A side: "TURN YOU ROUND", B side: "THROW ME"
1972 Ding Dong Who Rang the Bell
1972 A side: "DING DONG WHO RANG THE BELL" B side: "THE FOX"
1972 Gabriel's Mother's Highway
1975 Pigtails
1976 Lord of the Dance
1981 Sunshine Rainbows and Violins
1981 Children's Christmas Songs
1985 Fifty Golden Nursery Rhymes
1989 Tree House
Releases on CD
1989 Tree House
1990 White Pyjamas
1991 Dancing in the Kitchen
1992 Walking on the Milkyway
1993 Merry Christmas
1993 Franciscus Henri - My Favourite Nursery Rhymes
1994 Stories and Songs
1994 Hans Christian Anderson
1997 Hello Mister Whiskers
1998 Hooray for Mister Whiskers
1998 Mister Whiskers: My Favourite Nursery Rhymes
1999 Mister Whiskers: Monkey Business
1999 Board of Studies "Street Sense" - Road Safety Songs
2002 The Best of Franciscus Henri
2003 Explorer Semester One
2004 Maestro Semester One
2004 Explorer Semester Two
2004 Maestro Semester Two
2005 Nothing Fixed or Final
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
Biography text from Last.fm, available under CC BY-SA.