Cape Town in the fifties and sixties delivered its fair share of crooners who modelled their music and even their dress sense on famous singers such as Frank Sinatra, Harry Belafonte, etc.
In a 1992 hit-musical called “Crooners,” well-known producers David Kramer and Taliep Petersen showcased some of the Mother City’s forgotten talent.
One such talent (I’m not sure if he was part of Kramer’s musical) was a singer called Dougie Schrikker.
Largely unknown even in his own city, Schrikker performed live on the nightclub- and carnival scene around the Cape Flats. As far as I can remember, he never recorded a album. A quick Google-search doesn’t even return a profile or any pictures of the performer.
However, about 3 years ago I posted a video featuring an audio-clip of Dougie singing the Frank Sinatra tune ”When I fall in love.” The clip came from a CD I bought soon after Schrikker’s death in 1998. The hastily put-together CD features a few tracks of Dougie Schikker recorded during a live performance.
The Victoria Harbour Sundowner Sessions #24: Dougie Schrikker
Here is the video of Dougie Schrikker set to images of some of Cape Town and South Africa’s musical talents as well as some images of my hometown of the Helderberg:
Over the next few Sundays, Howzit-HongKong.com will feature a YouTube clip of one (or more) of the musicians and their sounds who have influenced and shaped South African and specifically Cape Town music as part of what we like to call The Victoria Harbour Sundowner Sessions. I am fortunate to be living right next to one of the most stunning working harbours in the world… Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour. I often find myself staring across the Harbour at night, with the lights dimmed and one of my favourite musicians from home over the speakers. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do…
Today is Heritage Day in South Africa. Wikipedia defines it as follows:
Heritage Day, September 24, is a Public Holiday on which South Africans across the spectrum are encouraged to celebrate their cultural heritage and the diversity of their beliefs and traditions, in the wider context of a nation that belongs to all its people.
Here in my apartment in Hong Kong, as things go in Asia, my kids are swamped daily with studies and other school-related issues. However, as it is Heritage Day, I had them finish their homework early and right now, they are enjoying the David Kramer DVD called SongBook.
You may remember that David was part of the most dynamic and internationally recognised duo of David Kramer & Taliep Petersen. Together they produced the much-acclaimed musicals District Six and Ghoema, to name only two.
On a recent trip home, this DVD became one of my most cherished purchases. As a committed follower of Cape Town music (especially the unique genres known as Cape Jazz and Ghoema) it is one of a set of treasured items also because it helps me to explain to my kids, who basically grew up in Asia, where their forefathers came from what our culture is all about.
If you know anything about the Kramer/Petersen musicals, you will remember that it talks, through the music, about the people who arrived at the Dutch halfway station (as Cape Town was known back in the days) from as far afield as Malaysia/Java, Madagascar, Batavia, India and yes… even China. They know about these places because of the songs in the musical. In this unique way, SongBook is aiding the Missus and I to explain to our 2 little ones our equally unique cultural issues in a clearer and more fun way. What makes this task all the more easy is the fact that our kids naturally took to this kind of music like ducks to water. It is, after all… in their genes! Right now my 9-year old son is spraying furniture polish on the lounge tiles so that he “can jive better!” (his words, not mine)
On this Heritage Day, I can just say thank you to David Kramer and (even after your sad passing) Shukran to Taliep Petersen. Not only for making my job as an expatriate father so much easier, but also for what you have done to keep the Cape Town and by extension, the South African culture alive.
