I have just received some very bad news… Johannes Kerkorrel, aka Johnny K, has died. Yesterday afternoon around 1.00pm SA time, someone found his body, 3km outside Kleinmond, hanging from a tree. According to friends close to his family, this was exactly the way a former lover of the music icon took his life some years ago.

It is a sad day for South Africa, the music industry and the world.

Johannes helped to pioneer the new wave of South African Music that started in the mid-eighties, and although often not too popular with the ‘older and more conservative folks’, always managed to get his point across. However and inevitably for a man with his talent, his music soon became appreciated and accepted (even fashionable) to the point where he developed into a national icon.

For those who would like to reminisce, visit here to check out the albums or here for a slighty longer history (starting at the Voelvry days). Unfortunately both these links are in Afrikaans.