Most musicians in Worcester have one thing in common: Parker Street. The local Mecca of music.
It was there where the Fischers, the Fleet Christmas Choir, Johnny Lyners and Kowie Hollenbach, to name but a few, played their first notes.
Worcester can be praised for having one of the richest cultural heritages in the country.
These rich musical treasures were honoured by the Institute of Justice and Reconciliation (IJR), which explored how the realities of apartheid, different genres, race and personalities modified the town’s musical landscape.
The IJR, together with Esselenpark High School, Worcester Secondary and Valley FM, documented, published and disseminated these musical traditions. This included all communities in the surrounds, not only south of Durban Street.
Although, initially meant to be recorded as 35-minute long radio episodes on Brass, Langarm, Pop, Gospel and HipHop, the sound quality was not suitable for broadcasting and the output was changed to produce a set of posters.
The posters were unveiled at a ceremony last week at the VGK Church museum, also known as the old Pardon Café.
Legendary South African sultan of musicals, David Kramer, (who hails from Worcester) had the audience glued to their seats with his reminiscing of his home town.
Born into an era where Rock ’n Roll dominated, he was lured, in spite of apartheid, into visiting the so-called onderdorp, where his ears always caught the music.
Here the sounds of Charlie’s Ramblers, oom Tokka and Danny’s Rhythm Band entertained the people.
“Apartheid was destructive in terms of moulding these connections. The fact that people’s stories haven’t been celebrated, is the big tragedy,” Kramer said.
The project has proven that music is a universal language and the variety of musical forms is something that musicians from separate communities can share.
It can also be said that it signifies the indivisibility of humanity and musical expressions.
Worcester’s rich musical footprint, which he draws some of his inspiration from, has allowed Kramer to travel the world and mesmerise audiences with his plays and musicals about Cape coloured communities.
“When you crossed Durban Street the best musicians were there, hier bo, gaan daar niks aan nie.”
We must learn to tell our own stories in our own language in our own manner of singing. That is where success lies,” Kramer said.
