In 1967, Bouwens joined the band Soul Invention, which later changed its name to "George Baker Selection." Their first album, Little Green Bag (1970), gave them their first hit. Their debut single, "Little Green Bag" reached the #16 position on the Cash Box magazine chart and #21 in the Billboard Top 100 in the United States. This disc sold over one million copies globally, and received a gold disc. By 1972 the band had sold over 5 million records.
Their fifth album Paloma Blanca was released in 1975, and the single "Paloma Blanca" reached #1 in the charts in several countries. Paloma Blanca, often called Una Paloma Blanca, by the Dutch band George Baker Selection is a hit song that topped the charts all over Europe in 1975. It can be found on the group's fifth album, of the same name.
The song became a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Easy Listening Singles chart in early 1976, and peaked at number twenty-six on the Hot 100 as well as peaking at number thirty-three on the Hot Country Singles charts as well. The song was composed by George Baker, and features, rather originally for a pop song, a melodic line played on the recorder. The song was rumored to.