ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti fˈoːɹ hiː fˈaʊndᵻd ʃˈæfi tʃˈæntənt, ɐ θˈiəɾɚ ɡɹˈuːp, wˌɪtʃ lˈɛd tə hɪz fˈɜːst kəlˌæbɚɹˈeɪʃənz wɪð tʃˈæntjuːs lˈiːsbəθ lˈɪst.
In 1964 he founded Shaffy Chantant, a theatre group, which led to his first collaborations with chanteuse Liesbeth List.