John Makin has been played on NTS in shows including The NTS Breakfast Show w/ Flo, featured first on 19 February 2024. Songs played include Mad For You Baby and Urban Romance.

John Makin (Liverpool, 1950 - Brussels 31 oktober 2011])a lso known as Mister John was an English - Belgian singer.

Mister John shot to fame if not fortune in the summer of 1998 with his one and only hit single "Potverdekke! It's Great to be a Belgian" - an affectionately ironic tribute to Belgium and the Belgians. The Belgian Press, TV and Radio, in characteristic amazement that anybody, especially an obscure Liverpool-born song-writer, could be saying positive things about their much-maligned country, gave the song all the encouragement it deserved to help it to Number 6 in the National Hit Parade.

The bewildered belgophile - sincere in his belief that the Belgians were to be admired for their liberal democracy, modesty and hard work - achieved a short-lived notoriety which his earlier folk/blues recordings had not bestowed upon him.

His next excursion into the murky waters of the commercial music world was "The Queen Mum Song" released on that estimable lady's 100th Birthday… "my own tribute from the man in the street for someone who had managed to survive the most violent and dangerous century in history.. and still enjoy a gin and tonic and a flutter on the horses!"

This second single having sunk without trace, our hapless troubadour promptly paved the way for his headlong leap into obscurity with "The Eurosong" - a celebration of the arrival of a new currency for a new Europe. Needless to say - he hasn't been heard of much since then…

"I thought people would be interested in historic occasions," he muses, "but I suppose that as ever they are really interested in money and sex."

Playing regular gigs with partner Doctor Rob at parties, weddings and in old folks homes, he remains stoically optimistic: "I never wanted fame and money… and now my wish has been granted."

At 57 Mister John is still playing music and is extremely happy living in Brussels.