Maria Elisabeth Ender

 Maria Elisabeth Ender, better known as Mariska Veres (October 1, 1947 -December 2, 2006)

Veres was a Dutch singer who was best known as the lead singer of the rock group Shocking Blue. She was known for her sultry voice, eccentric performances, and her striking appearance which featured kohl-rimmed eyes, high cheekbones, and long jet black hair, which was actually a wig. Veres began her career as a singer in 1963 with the guitar band Les Mysteres. In 1964 the band recorded an EP (GTB-label, 10 copies only) with Veres singing on side 1: "Summertime" (solo) and "Someone" (a duet). In 2010 the EP was re-released by record club Platenclub Utrecht (PLUT 009). In 1965, she sang with the Bumble Bees, and then with the Blue Fighters, Danny and his Favourites and General Four. Later in 1966 she sang with the Motowns with whom she also played organ. In 1968, she was invited to join Shocking Blue to replace lead singer Fred de Wilde who had to join the army. In 1969/1970 Shocking Blue gained worldwide fame with the hit single "Venus". When Shocking Blue split up in June 1974, Veres continued in a solo career until the band was reunited in 1984. Veres also started the jazz group The Shocking Jazz Quintet in 1993, and recorded an album (Shocking You) with pop songs from the 1960s and 1970s, now in a jazz version. Veres had a long-term relationship with guitarist André van Geldorp, but never married or had children. Veres died of gallbladder cancer on December 2, 2006, aged 59, just three weeks after the disease had been detected. She was 59 years old.