How three telephone operators from Limburg conquered the global music charts in the seventies

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Before they became a household name across Europe, the Veldpaus sisters worked as telephone operators in the Netherlands. Their transition from local workers to international stars began with a song written by their former guitar teacher, eventually selling millions of copies and topping the UK charts in 1976.

The Dutch country and pop group Pussycat was formed by sisters Toni, Betty, and Marianne Veldpaus. Before their musical breakthrough, the trio worked as telephone operators in Limburg. They were joined by guitarists Lou Willé, who was married to Toni at the time, along with Theo Wetzels, Theo Coumans, and John Theunissen. The band evolved from a group called Sweet Reaction, which had been formed by Willé, while other members had previously played in a band known as Scum.

Their defining moment arrived with the song 'Mississippi', penned by their former guitar teacher, Werner Theunissen. While the track became a major European hit in 1975, it reached the number one spot on the UK Singles Chart in October 1976. The song's success was immense, with estimates suggesting it sold over five million copies worldwide. Following this triumph, the band maintained a career spanning more than a decade, producing approximately seventeen albums and touring as far as South Africa. They were also frequent performers on the West German television series Musikladen during the late 1970s and early 1980s.

The band's legacy continued long after their initial peak. They reunited under the name Pussycat in 1999 and performed through 2001, the same year they released the compilation album 25 Years After Mississippi. Their later projects included a 2004 box set, a 2005 collaboration with the country band Major Dundee, and a 2023 release of previously unheard song demos recorded in 1983. Betty Veldpaus, who remained a key member during their primary years from 1975 to 1985, passed away on 28 June 2024 at the age of 72.

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