Maggie MacNeal

Biography

Sjoukje Lucie Smit (née van 't Spijker; born 5 May 1950), known professionally as Maggie MacNeal, is a Dutch singer. She was a member of the pop duo Mouth and MacNeal, who are best known for their 1972 million-selling record "How Do You Do", and for representing the Netherlands at the Eurovision Song Contest 1974, finishing third with the song "I See a Star". In 1980, she represented the Netherlands at the Eurovision Song Contest 1980, finishing fifth with the song "Amsterdam".

Mouth & MacNeal

Born Sjoukje Lucie van 't Spijker, she would go under the name Maggie MacNeal. In 1971, she signed to Decca Records and released her debut solo single – a cover, produced by Hans van Hemert, of "I Heard It Through the Grapevine", written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong and made famous by singer Marvin Gaye.
In 1972, she teamed up with Willem Duyn, also known as Big Mouth, to form the duo known as Mouth & MacNeal, recording Pop international hits such as "How Do You Do" (1971), "Hey, You Love" (#45Canada), and "Hello-A" (1972)(#95CAN). She was with Mouth & MacNeal from 1971 to 1974 including a participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 1974 with the song "I See a Star".

Solo career

After their breakup, she formed her own group in 1975 with her husband Frans Smit (drums), Adri de Hont (guitar), Ben Vermeulen and Will de Meijer (bass guitar). In 1977, the line-up changed to Smit, Jons Pistoor, Lex Bolderdijk, and Robert Verwey (bass). She participated again in the Eurovision Song Contest 1980 where she finished in 5th place with the song Amsterdam.
MacNeal was one of the artists who recorded the song Shalom from Holland as a token of solidarity to the Israeli people, threatened by missiles from Iraq, during the first Gulf War in 1991.
In 2000, she became a member of the Dutch Divas, together with Marga Bult.
MacNeal was still touring in 2023.