Difference between revisions of "David Kramer"

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[[ David Kramer]] (1951-) is a bilingual singer, musician, composer, playwright and director.  
 
[[ David Kramer]] (1951-) is a bilingual singer, musician, composer, playwright and director.  
  
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=BEING EDITED=
+
==Biography==
 +
 
 +
Born in Worcester in 1951, he learnt to play the guitar and wrote music at an early age, playing in a band called The Creeps during his schooldays. Kramer matriculated at Worcester Boys High School.
 +
 
 +
Originally trained as a textile designer at Leeds University where he graduated with an Honours degree (1971-74), but discovered a need to write songs expressing and interpreting the South African reality.
 +
 
 +
==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance==
 +
 
 +
[[David Kramer]] has made a significant contribution to the arts in South Africa - as singer/songwriter, playwright/composer, and theatre and music producer. Primarily known for his tranformation of South African music, and the enhancement of non-standard Cape Afrikaans (or "Kaaps") as a musical vehicle.
 +
 
 +
===As singer/songwriter===
 +
 
 +
He began his music career as a singer/songwriter, performing at folk clubs and campus concerts across South Africa in the mid 1970’s, singing satrirical songs. He began writing and singing songs based on a mix of rock, Afrikaans folk songs and township music, despite his revulsion of the Nationalist regime. His recordings, combined with his popular public appearances and the immensely entertaining series of Volkswagen Minibus adverts starring Kramer made him a household name and face in the 1980s.
 +
 
 +
His first album BAKGAT! was immediately banned in its entirety by the [[SABC]] because of its political satire, the use of coarse language and the mixing of languages. Kramer pioneered the use of Cape Afrikaans and South African English in his lyrics, sometimes switching between the languages in the same song. He focussed on small town South Africa and employed a gritty realism and dark satire to tell his stories and describe his characters.
 +
 
 +
His albums include:
 +
 
 +
1980 BAKGAT! (Gold)  (banned by the [[SABC]] in 1981)
 +
 
 +
1981 THE STORY OF BLOKKIES JOUBERT (Triple Gold, Platinum)
 +
 
 +
1982 DELICIOUS MONSTER (Gold)
 +
 
 +
1983 HANEPOOTPAD (Double Gold)
 +
 
 +
1984 JISJISJIS (recorded live) (Double Gold)
 +
 
 +
1984 KWAAI
 +
 
 +
1986 BABOONDOGS
 +
 
 +
1986 LAAT VIR DIE DANS (Afrikaans Hits)
 +
 
 +
1986 DISTRICT SIX - THE MUSICAL (Gold)
  
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==Biography==
+
1988 CAPE TOWN (with Taliep Petersen)
 +
 
 +
1989 EINA
  
 +
1991 FAIRYLAND
  
−
Born in Worcester, he learnt to play the guitar and wrote music at an early age, playing in a band called The Creeps during his schooldays. Originally trained as a textile designer at Leeds University (1971-74), but discovered a need to write songs expressing and interpreting the South African reality.
+
1995 KAT AND THE KINGS (International Release)
  
 +
1996 KLASSIC KRAMER
  
−
==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance==
+
1997 ALLES VANNIE BESTE (Gold)
  
−
Primarily known for his tranformation of South African music, and the enhancement of non-standard Cape Afrikaans (or "Kaaps") as a musical vehicle.
+
1999 KLIPHARD
  
−
He began writing and singing songs based on a mix of rock, Afrikaans folk songs and township music, despite his revulsion of the Nationalist regime. His musical albums include ''Bakgat'' (1980 - banned by the [[SABC]] in 1981), ''The Story of Blokkies Joubert''  (198*), ''Royal Hotel'' (198*) and **. These, combined with his popular public appearances and the immensely entertaining series of Volkswagen Minibus adverts starring Kramer made him a household name and face in the 1980s.
+
2001 IN THE DAYS OF DISTRICT SIX
  
−
Other purely musical performances include  ''[[The Jol]]'',  ''[[Hemel en aarde]]'' ("heaven and earth") (2009)
+
2002 KAROO KITAAR BLUES
  
−
Working with [[Barney Simon]] on his show ''[[The Jol]]'' at the [[Market Theatre]], he became interested in theatrical work. In 1987 he co-wrote and directed the musical hit ''[[District Six – The Musical]]'' with [[Taliep Petersen]], then followed with ''[[Fairyland]]'' (1990), ''[[Crooners]]'' (1991), ''[[Poison]]'' (1992, 1994), ''[[Kat and the Kings]]'' (1995) and ''[[Klop-Klop]]'' (“Knock-knock”- 1997). Also collaborated with [[Paul Slabolepszy]] on ''[[The Eyes of their Whites]]'' (1990) at the Edinburgh Festival.
+
2004 HUISTOE
  
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In 2000 Kramer directed [[Marc Lottering]] in ''[[From the Cape Flats with Love]]'', and in 2001 compiled and directed ''[[Big Stakes and Slap Chips]]'' with [[Marc Lottering|Lottering]]. In 2001 also co-wrote (with [[Jody Abrahams]] and [[Gaerin Hauptfleisch]]) ''[[Die Ballade van Koos Sas]]'' with his regular musicians  [[Gammie Lackay]] and [[Howard Links]]and put together the haunting musical project ''[[Karoo Kitaar Blues]]'',  with untutored musicians [[Hannes Coetzee]] and [[Tokos Lodewyk]] from farms and towns (2001-2003).
+
2007 HEMEL & AARDE
  
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Kramer did his first productions**? under the label [[Blik Productions]] and for ** years (1990-1996) he and his wife [[Renaye Kramer]] ran The [[Dock Road Theatre]] in the Cape Town’s waterfront development. He and [[Renaye Kramer|Renaye]] went on to form a production company [[David Kramer Productions]]?* Winner of numerous awards over the years for his music as well as his theatre work. This includes the [[Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards|Fleur du Cap Award]] for Best Contribution to a Musical or Revue for ''[[Kat and the Kings]]'' (1999) and the revival of  ''[[District Six]]'' (2002), and a Laurence Olivier Award as Best New Musical in 1999 for ''[[Kat and the Kings]]'', all of which he shared with [[Taliep Petersen]].
+
2017 WAKKERSLAAP
  
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KRAMER, David. Together with [[Taliep Petersen]] he created the musical ''[[District Six – The Musical]]'' which ran at the [[Baxter Theatre]] for six months in 1987 before moving to the [[Market Theatre]] in February 1988. Together with [[Taliep Petersen]] he created ''[[Poison]]'' which was staged at the [[Nico Malan Theatre]] in 1992. At the same time their ''[[Fairyland]]'' was staged at the [[Dock Road Theatre]] and ''[[Crooners]]'' was staged at the ''[[City Lights Theatre]]''. ***(Tucker, 1997)
+
Other purely musical performances include  ''[[The Jol]]'' and ''[[Hemel en aarde]]'' ("heaven and earth") (2009). While working with [[Barney Simon]] on his show ''[[The Jol]]'' at the [[Market Theatre]], Kramer became interested in theatrical work.  
  
−
KRAMER, David & [[Taliep Petersen]], ''[[District Six – The Musical]]'', 2002.  ''[[Karoo Kitaar Blues]]'', [[Baxter Theatre]], 2001. KRAMER directed [[Marc Lottering]] in ''[[From the Cape Flats with Love]]'' (2000), ''[[Big Stakes and Slap Chips]]'' (2001), ''[[Hallelujah!]]'', and also directed ''[[3 Wiser Men]]'' (2008-9), ''[[Orpheus in Africa]]'' (2015-2016).  He also did ''[[Blood Brothers]]'' and ''[[Langarm]]'' at the [[Fugard Theatre]] in 2018.
+
===As writer - Musicals by [[David Kramer]] and [[Taliep Petersen]]===
  
−
===Musicals by [[David Kramer]] and [[Taliep Petersen]]===
+
Together with [[Taliep Petersen]], David Kramer created the musical ''[[District Six – The Musical]]'' which ran at the [[Baxter Theatre]] for six months in 1987 before moving to the [[Market Theatre]] in February 1988. Together with [[Taliep Petersen]] he created ''[[Poison]]'' which was staged at the [[Nico Malan Theatre]] in 1992. At the same time their ''[[Fairyland]]'' was staged at the [[Dock Road Theatre]] and ''[[Crooners]]'' was staged at the [[City Lights Theatre]]. (Tucker, 1997)
  
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* ''[[Crooners]]'' (1992)
+
Kramer did his first productions under the label [[Blik Productions]].
  
 
* ''[[District Six - The Musical]]'' (1987)
 
* ''[[District Six - The Musical]]'' (1987)
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* ''[[Fairyland]]'' (1990)
 
* ''[[Fairyland]]'' (1990)
  
−
* ''[[Kat and the Kings]]'' (1995)
+
* ''[[Crooners]]'' (1992)
  
 
* ''[[Poison]]'' (1992, 1994, 2000)
 
* ''[[Poison]]'' (1992, 1994, 2000)
 +
 +
* ''[[Kat and the Kings]]'' (1995)
  
 
* ''[[Klop Klop]]'' (1996)
 
* ''[[Klop Klop]]'' (1996)
Line 48: Line 88:
  
 
* ''[[The Eyes of their Whites]]'' (1990, a review with [[Paul Slabolepszy]])
 
* ''[[The Eyes of their Whites]]'' (1990, a review with [[Paul Slabolepszy]])
−
* ''[[Die Ballade van Koos Sas]]'' (2001)
+
* ''[[Die Ballade van Koos Sas]]'' (2001, with [[Jody Abrahams]] and [[Gaerin Hauptfleisch]])
 
* ''[[The Kramer Petersen Songbook]]'' (2007)
 
* ''[[The Kramer Petersen Songbook]]'' (2007)
 
* ''[[Some Like It Vrot]]'' (2011)  
 
* ''[[Some Like It Vrot]]'' (2011)  
Line 55: Line 95:
 
* ''[[District Six - Kanala]]'' (2016)
 
* ''[[District Six - Kanala]]'' (2016)
 
* ''[[Langarm]]'' (2018)
 
* ''[[Langarm]]'' (2018)
 +
 +
===As theatre impresario - The Dock Road Theatre===
 +
 +
In 1990,  David and [[Renaye Kramer]] became partners in an entertainment complex housed in a historic building in Cape Town’s Waterfront development. Here they opened the [[Dock Rd Theatre]]. Ninety percent of the work staged during the six years of its existence was original South African writing and this vision was pursued without any state subsidy or grant. The venue closed in 1996. He and [[Renaye Kramer|Renaye]] went on to form a production company [[David Kramer Productions]].
 +
 +
===As music producer===
 +
 +
In 2001, Kramer presented a small show at the [[KKNK]], called ''[[Karoo Kitaar Blues]]''. It was a concert presenting the eccentric guitar styles of the Karoo - unique finger-picking and tunings of a marginalised people who live in isolated and impoverished areas and play the “ou liedjies”. The performance featured untutored musicians from farms and towns such as [[Hannes Coetzee]] and [[Tokos Lodewyk]].
  
 
===As director===
 
===As director===
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Theatre productions directed by [[David Kramer]] include:
 
Theatre productions directed by [[David Kramer]] include:
  
−
* ''[[From Cape Flats with Love]]'' ([[Marc Lottering]])
+
* ''[[From the Cape Flats with Love]]'' ([[Marc Lottering]]) (2000)
−
* ''[[Big Stakes Slap Chips]]'' ([[Marc Lottering]])
+
* ''[[Big Stakes and Slap Chips]]'' ([[Marc Lottering]]) (2001)
 
* ''[[Hallalujah]]'' ([[Marc Lottering]])
 
* ''[[Hallalujah]]'' ([[Marc Lottering]])
 
* ''[[Three Wise Men]]'' (Lottering, Rabinowitz, Moosa)
 
* ''[[Three Wise Men]]'' (Lottering, Rabinowitz, Moosa)
−
* ''[[Three Wiser Men]]'' (Lottering, Rabinowitz, Moosa)
+
* ''[[Three Wiser Men]]'' (2008-2009, Lottering, Rabinowitz, Moosa)
 
* ''[[Krismis van Map Jacobs]]'' ([[Adam Small]])
 
* ''[[Krismis van Map Jacobs]]'' ([[Adam Small]])
 
* ''[[Radio Classics]]'' (Izobell, Ford)
 
* ''[[Radio Classics]]'' (Izobell, Ford)
−
* ''[[Blood Brothers]]''  
+
* ''[[Blood Brothers]]'' (2013)
−
* ''[[Orpheus in Africa]]''  
+
* ''[[Orpheus in Africa]]'' (2015-2016)
 
* ''[[Amper Famous]]'' (Vito Heyn, Kramer)
 
* ''[[Amper Famous]]'' (Vito Heyn, Kramer)
 
* ''[[District Six - Kanala]]''  
 
* ''[[District Six - Kanala]]''  
 
* ''[[Afrique Mon Desir]]''  ([[Laurinda Hofmeyr]])
 
* ''[[Afrique Mon Desir]]''  ([[Laurinda Hofmeyr]])
 
* ''[[Platteland]]''  
 
* ''[[Platteland]]''  
−
* ''[[Langarm]]''
+
* ''[[Langarm]]'' (2018)
 +
 
 +
===Filmed recordings of Kramer's work===
 +
* ''[[Karoo Kitaar Blues]]'' (2004)
 +
* ''[[District Six - The Musical]]'' (2007)
 +
* ''[[The Kramer Petersen Songbook]]'' (2008)
 +
* ''[[Ghoema]]'' (2009)
 +
* ''[[Karoo Kitaar Blues - Live in Concert]]'' (2010)
 +
 
 +
==Awards, etc==
 +
 
 +
Winner of numerous awards over the years for his music as well as his theatre work. This includes the [[Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards|Fleur du Cap Award]] for Best Contribution to a Musical or Revue for ''[[Kat and the Kings]]'' (1999) and the revival of  ''[[District Six]]'' (2002), and a Laurence Olivier Award as Best New Musical in 1999 for ''[[Kat and the Kings]]'', all of which he shared with [[Taliep Petersen]].
 +
 
 +
In 1999, Kramer received an award from the [[Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees]] called "Afrikaans Onbeperk", awarded annually to someone who has made a significant contribution to the Afrikaans language.
  
 
== Sources ==
 
== Sources ==

Latest revision as of 17:22, 27 September 2024

David Kramer (1951-) is a bilingual singer, musician, composer, playwright and director.

Biography

Born in Worcester in 1951, he learnt to play the guitar and wrote music at an early age, playing in a band called The Creeps during his schooldays. Kramer matriculated at Worcester Boys High School.

Originally trained as a textile designer at Leeds University where he graduated with an Honours degree (1971-74), but discovered a need to write songs expressing and interpreting the South African reality.

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

David Kramer has made a significant contribution to the arts in South Africa - as singer/songwriter, playwright/composer, and theatre and music producer. Primarily known for his tranformation of South African music, and the enhancement of non-standard Cape Afrikaans (or "Kaaps") as a musical vehicle.

As singer/songwriter

He began his music career as a singer/songwriter, performing at folk clubs and campus concerts across South Africa in the mid 1970’s, singing satrirical songs. He began writing and singing songs based on a mix of rock, Afrikaans folk songs and township music, despite his revulsion of the Nationalist regime. His recordings, combined with his popular public appearances and the immensely entertaining series of Volkswagen Minibus adverts starring Kramer made him a household name and face in the 1980s.

His first album BAKGAT! was immediately banned in its entirety by the SABC because of its political satire, the use of coarse language and the mixing of languages. Kramer pioneered the use of Cape Afrikaans and South African English in his lyrics, sometimes switching between the languages in the same song. He focussed on small town South Africa and employed a gritty realism and dark satire to tell his stories and describe his characters.

His albums include:

1980 BAKGAT! (Gold) (banned by the SABC in 1981)

1981 THE STORY OF BLOKKIES JOUBERT (Triple Gold, Platinum)

1982 DELICIOUS MONSTER (Gold)

1983 HANEPOOTPAD (Double Gold)

1984 JISJISJIS (recorded live) (Double Gold)

1984 KWAAI

1986 BABOONDOGS

1986 LAAT VIR DIE DANS (Afrikaans Hits)

1986 DISTRICT SIX - THE MUSICAL (Gold)

1988 CAPE TOWN (with Taliep Petersen)

1989 EINA

1991 FAIRYLAND

1995 KAT AND THE KINGS (International Release)

1996 KLASSIC KRAMER

1997 ALLES VANNIE BESTE (Gold)

1999 KLIPHARD

2001 IN THE DAYS OF DISTRICT SIX

2002 KAROO KITAAR BLUES

2004 HUISTOE

2007 HEMEL & AARDE

2017 WAKKERSLAAP

Other purely musical performances include The Jol and Hemel en aarde ("heaven and earth") (2009). While working with Barney Simon on his show The Jol at the Market Theatre, Kramer became interested in theatrical work.

As writer - Musicals by David Kramer and Taliep Petersen

Together with Taliep Petersen, David Kramer created the musical District Six – The Musical which ran at the Baxter Theatre for six months in 1987 before moving to the Market Theatre in February 1988. Together with Taliep Petersen he created Poison which was staged at the Nico Malan Theatre in 1992. At the same time their Fairyland was staged at the Dock Road Theatre and Crooners was staged at the City Lights Theatre. (Tucker, 1997)

Kramer did his first productions under the label Blik Productions.

Musicals written by David Kramer

As theatre impresario - The Dock Road Theatre

In 1990, David and Renaye Kramer became partners in an entertainment complex housed in a historic building in Cape Town’s Waterfront development. Here they opened the Dock Rd Theatre. Ninety percent of the work staged during the six years of its existence was original South African writing and this vision was pursued without any state subsidy or grant. The venue closed in 1996. He and Renaye went on to form a production company David Kramer Productions.

As music producer

In 2001, Kramer presented a small show at the KKNK, called Karoo Kitaar Blues. It was a concert presenting the eccentric guitar styles of the Karoo - unique finger-picking and tunings of a marginalised people who live in isolated and impoverished areas and play the “ou liedjies”. The performance featured untutored musicians from farms and towns such as Hannes Coetzee and Tokos Lodewyk.

As director

Theatre productions directed by David Kramer include:

Filmed recordings of Kramer's work

Awards, etc

Winner of numerous awards over the years for his music as well as his theatre work. This includes the Fleur du Cap Award for Best Contribution to a Musical or Revue for Kat and the Kings (1999) and the revival of District Six (2002), and a Laurence Olivier Award as Best New Musical in 1999 for Kat and the Kings, all of which he shared with Taliep Petersen.

In 1999, Kramer received an award from the Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees called "Afrikaans Onbeperk", awarded annually to someone who has made a significant contribution to the Afrikaans language.

Sources

Pretoria News, 18 April 2001.

"Twee manne steel die kollig" , Rapport Tydskrif, 20 September, 2009: p. 8.

Die Beeld, Die Kunste Oktober/November 2018.

Official website, https://www.davidkramer.co.za/history.html

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