David Kramer (singer)

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David Kramer
Kramer in 2010
Born (1951-06-27) 27 June 1951 (age 72)
Worcester, South Africa
NationalitySouth African
Alma materLeeds University (textile)
University of Cape Town (hon)
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, playwright and musical director
Years active1980-
AgentMountain Records
Known forRed veldskoen shoes
Volkswagen Microbus adverts
Stylefolk, solo guitar
Awards11 gold and 1 platinum record
Websitedavid kramer

David Kramer (/krɑːmə/) (born 27 June 1951) is a South African singer, songwriter, playwright and director, notable for his musicals about the Coloured communities in the Cape, and for his early opposition to apartheid.

Early life and family[edit]

The Kramer family's surname was initially Karabelnik; however, it was later changed to Kramer by his grandfather, who arrived in South Africa from Lithuania in 1899 and made a living as a salesman (walking from farm to farm selling goods).[1]

Kramer was born in Worcester, South Africa, to a furniture merchant and a hairdresser, and spent his formative years in Worcester. While there, Kramer had some music lessons with the classical composer Cromwell Everson. He played in a South African band named The Creeps in the 1960s and then traveled to England in 1971 to study textile design at Leeds University on a bursary.

His brother, John Kramer, is an artist known for his oil-on-canvas portrayal of cafés, stores, and houses standing in the sharp sunlight of sleepy towns.[2]

Musical career[edit]

Kramer embarked on his musical journey in the mid-1970s, gracing folk clubs and campus stages across South Africa. A distinctive feature of his songwriting was his incorporation of both Cape Afrikaans and South African English within a single composition. His narratives often centered on the nuances of small-town South Africa, employing a blend of realism and satire to craft compelling stories and vivid characters.

Onstage, Kramer presented himself as a quintessential rural figure, navigating the dusty byways of small-town South Africa armed with an old bicycle and a modest guitar. He wove tales and melodies in the Boland dialect of his upbringing, seamlessly transitioning between languages to engage his audience.

His musical endeavors were primarily under the banner of Mountain Records, which released his first six albums. The debut offering, "BAKGAT!", faced immediate censorship by the SABC due to its perceived political and provocative content. Nevertheless, Kramer's subsequent releases garnered significant commercial success, earning him 11 gold and one platinum certifications for album sales. [citation needed]

One of his standout albums, "Die Verhaal van Blokkies Joubert," depicted the life of a retired Springbok rugby player and propelled Kramer to widespread recognition. Singles like "Blokkies Joubert" and "Die Royal Hotel" topped the charts on various South African radio stations, with the album itself reaching number 11 on the national LP charts. Other notable tracks from his discography include "Stoksielalleen," "Delicious Monster," "Hanepootpad," and "Kwaai."

In a unique collaboration in 1983, Kramer partnered with Volkswagen South Africa, allowing his distinctive persona to be featured in their Microbus (known locally as a "Kombi") advertising campaign. This association endured for an impressive thirteen years, making it arguably the country's longest-running celebrity endorsement. Recognizable by his iconic red veldskoen shoes, bicycle, and guitar, Kramer became synonymous with the Volkswagen Microbus in the hearts and minds of South Africans. [citation needed]

In 2001, Kramer launched a show called Karoo Kitaar Blues, presenting the eccentric guitar styles of the Karoo - the unique finger-picking and tunings of marginalized people who live in remote villages and outposts of the semi-desert areas of South Africa. The show's quasi-documentary aimed to tell the story and document a long forgotten and almost lost part of South Africa's musical heritage and features unknown musicians and instruments from the Northern Cape hinterland.

As a direct result, one of these "forgotten" artists, Hannes Coetzee, became an overnight YouTube sensation,[3] and was invited to participate in a teaching workshop for Slide and Steel Guitar in Port Townsend, WA.

Partnership with Taliep Pietersen[edit]

Kramer and Taliep Petersen first met in the mid-'70s at a folk concert staged by Des and Dawn Lindberg at the University of Cape Town. In 1986 he collaborated with Petersen on the highly acclaimed stage musical District Six: The Musical, a politically influenced musical telling the story of the people of District Six in Cape Town, South Africa who were forcibly removed from the area during apartheid. It was produced by the Baxter Theatre and his wife, Renaye Kramer, and ran until 1990 with 550 performances, also touring internationally and returning to the Baxter in 2002.[4]

With Petersen, he created Fairyland, Poison, and Kat & the Kings, all to critical acclaim, the latter having successful runs on Broadway and in London's West End.[5]

The friendship and working relationship continued until Petersen's murder in 2006. To honour Petersen's memory, a Kramer Petersen Songbook production was staged at the Baxter Theatre to sold-out houses.[6]

Awards[edit]

Kramer was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Literature (Honoris Causa) by the University of Cape Town in 2007,[7] and an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Stellenbosch in 2014.[8]

In 2023, Kramer was awarded a Fleur du Cap Lifetime Achievement Award.[9]

Albums[edit]

  • Bakgat! (1980)
  • Die Verhaal van Blokkies Joubert (1981)
  • Delicious Monster (1982)
  • Hanepootpad (1983)
  • Jis Jis Jis (1983)
  • Kwaai (1984)
  • Van Der Merwe P.I. (1985) (Soundtrack to a movie of the same name)
  • Laat vir die Dans (1986)
  • Baboondogs (1986)
  • Cape Town (1988)
  • Eina (1989)
  • Klassic Kramer (compilation) (1996)
  • Alles Vannie Beste (1997)
  • Kliphard (2001)
  • Karoo Kitaar Blues (2002)
  • Huistoe (2004)
  • Hemel en Aarde (2007)
  • Wakkerslaap (2017)
  • Sharttendorrf (2019)

Musicals[edit]

  • District Six (1986)
  • Fairyland (1991)
  • Poison (1992)
  • Crooners (1992)
  • Klop Klop (1996)
  • Kat and the Kings (1995)
  • Die Ballade van Koos Sas (2001)
  • Ghoema (2005)
  • The Kramer Petersen Songbook (2007)
  • David Kramer's Breyani (2010)
  • Some Like It Vrot (2011)
  • Blood Brothers (2013)
  • Orpheus in Africa (2015)[10]
  • Langarm (2018)[11]
  • Danger in the Dark (2018)[12]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "David Kramer, South African Cultural Observatory - Living Treasures". Archived from the original on 6 January 2009. Retrieved 9 February 2009.
  2. ^ http://www.rosekorberart.com/artists/kramer4.htm Archived 3 April 2017 at the Wayback Machine Brother of the more famous David, by Maureen Barnes, Fair Lady, 18 August 1999
  3. ^ Hannes Coetzee Spoon Guitar Demo on YouTube
  4. ^ Thamm, Marianne (14 February 2016). "District Six Kanala: Commemorating the void that still remains". Daily Maverick.
  5. ^ Braid, Mary (15 March 1998). "Sing and dance, the beloved country". The Independent. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  6. ^ "David Kramer History". Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  7. ^ Media Release by University of Cape Town Archived 1 February 2017 at the Wayback Machine, 25 September 2007
  8. ^ "David Kramer an honorary Matie". 25 April 2014.
  9. ^ "Winners of 2023 Fleur du Cap awards announced". News24. 27 March 2023.
  10. ^ "Local theatre gets off to good start". www.iol.co.za.
  11. ^ "Kramer's 'Langarm' set be a hit". www.iol.co.za.
  12. ^ "David Kramer's Danger in the Dark returns to Baxter Theatre". www.news.uct.ac.za.

External links[edit]

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