Father of Belgian artist Raymond van het Groenewoud, Nico started of in 1946 as a violist in a Brussels Ball Orchestra. He recorded his first album in 1957 with the Belgian-Cuban group The Chakachas. They reached number one in the Belgian charts the year after. The group most famous song was a disco track 'Jungle Fever', which climbed the 1972 charts abroad, but was banned in the UK because of the sexual breathing sounds. Nico was also known as an arranger for more mainstream Belgian artist, such as Adamo, WIll Tura and Ingeborg and he collaborated with the orchestra of the national television station.