José van Dam, born in Brussels in 1940, was a renowned Belgian bass-baritone who significantly shaped the world of opera during the 1960s and 1970s. His talent was discovered by a Jesuit priest while he was singing in a church choir, leading him to study at the Royal Conservatory in his hometown. He made his debut in 1960 as Basilio in Puccini's 'The Barber of Seville' and was soon engaged by the Paris Opera. Throughout his career, van Dam performed in major opera houses worldwide, including in Geneva, Berlin, La Scala in Milan, and the Metropolitan Opera in New York.

Among his most famous roles was Leporello in Mozart's 'Don Giovanni,' which he also played in Joseph Losey's film adaptation in 1979. Van Dam had a deep connection to challenging roles, as he himself stated, "I love roles that hurt a little," a testament to his dedication to his craft. He was also known for his performances of Mendelssohn's 'Elijah' and Puccini's 'Gianni Schicchi.' Herbert von Karajan was one of his prominent supporters, and van Dam participated in the 1970 recording of Mozart's 'The Marriage of Figaro,' further solidifying his legacy in the opera world.