Ria Thielsch

Ria Thielsch (born in Manokwari, Indonesia, on 25 August 1951) is a Dutch singer and model. She was a model and a member of the girl group Luv' in 1980 and 1981. She was officially introduced to the public with the release of the album Forever Yours (a LP which reached the gold status in the Netherlands) and the single My Number One (a Top 5 single in Benelux). She is of Indo/(Dutch-Indonesian) descent

Ria Thielsch started her career as a model in the 1970s. In 1978, she was a limbo dancer and singer of the Ricardo & The Flames groupwhich recorded a single (Trinidad) that was produced by Roy Beltman (who collaborated with the band BZN) and flopped.

In August 1980, after a couple of years of mainstream success, the pop trio Luv' experienced trouble as Patty Brard suddenly left the formation. Hans van Hemert and Piet Souer, the group's producers, had already written new material for a next album. The girls had legal obligations. Brard's departure caused InterLUV' (Luv's limited company) to lose an estimated $75.000 as many performances were cancelled. Patty was replaced by Ria Thielsch who like her had Indonesian and New Guinean origins. Ria knew Marga Scheide, the blonde singer of Luv', from modeling agencies. She was selected from 200 applicants. Though she made some appearances by performing One More Little Kissie on stage and on TV, she was officially presented to the media when the album Forever Yours and the single My Number One came out. These records were smash hits in Benelux. Then, Luv' was supposed to take part in the Yamaha Music Festival (officially known as the World Popular Song Festival and considered as the "Oriental Eurovision") in November 1980 with the song Be My Lover Tonight. Instead of it, Luv' cancelled their participation to this competition and performed in the Musikladen TV show in Germany.
Soon after, Marga Scheide became overworked because Luv' toured extensively Europe. That's why, in early 1981 the ladies stopped their concerts but continued the TV and radio performances. In March, an official statement announced Luv's break-up. The group made a farewell performance later, on 22 July 1981, on the Nederland Muziekland show on Veronica (TV channel) to promote the single Tingalingaling. Finally, CNR/Carrere Records released the compilation Goodbye Luv'.

After Luv', Ria continued her modeling career. In April 2003, she took part with José Hoebee in a Luv' fan club day. Six months later, she attended with José and Hans van Hemert the release party of the compilation 25 Jaar Na Waldolala.

Single with Ricardo & The Flames

• Trinidad (1979)

Singles with Luv'

• My Number One (CNR/Carrere Records, 1980)
• Tingalingaling (CNR/Carrere Records, 1981)

Album with Luv'

• Forever Yours (CNR/Carrere Records, 1980)

Compilations with Luv'

• Goodbye Luv' (CNR/Carrere Records, 1981)
• Luv' Gold (Arcade Records, 1993)
• You're the Greatest LUVer (Mercury/PolyGram Germany, 1993)
• Hollands Glorie: LUV (CNR, 2002)
• 25 Jaar Na Waldolala (Universal Music, 2003)
• Completely In Luv' (Universal Music, 2006)