When his first hit, "Ik Zing Dit Lied Vorr Jou Alleen," came out in 1997, he was known as Jantje Smit (Little Jan Smit), because Jan Smit (real name: Johannes Hendricus Maria Smit) was a mere 12 years of age. His remaining work in the 1990s showed a decreasing rate of sales, except in Germany, where he maintained a strong following. As with many fading stars, Jan was "rescued" to a certain degree by reality television, when Dutch station TROS created a series based on his life. The show was successful, and an album released in the midst of it, Vrienden Voor Het Leven, was a number one hit. ~ Chris True