1973

Towards the end of the summer season a lot of group discussions took place with  the topic being our next winter contract. At the top of the list was ''South Africa''. Could you believe this ? one minute I'm plonking the piano in the Somerleyton ''Dukes head'' the next I'm contemplating a major  decision to travel to almost the other side of the globe.  

 Vanessa and myself were married on 25th August 73.  Gary married Lin on 10th November 73. I'll never forget playing church organ at their wedding. I doubt if the village surrounding Lound church has heard the dulcet sounds of 'A Whiter shade of pale'' or ''Jesus Christ Superstar'' since.             

At this point the band was getting various offers of work, and decisions had to be made. I  couldn't see myself leaving family & friends for South Africa for  6- 12 months. It was a scary thought .  No I was not going !

16th November 1973

It must have been over 40 degrees centregrade as we touched down to refuel at 'Salisbury airport' Rhodesia  (now Zimbabwe ) enroute to Johannesburg.  It was late evening. We were ushered into the waiting room where even the huge fans rotating up in the ceiling  didn't cool us in the heat and humidity. There was political unrest  the country and the airport looked like it was being run by the military.  They were toting  guns and looked slightly menacing. We were unsure of what was happening ,  but  whatever it was it delayed our plane's take off for a considerable time.

Over the past few weeks everything had moved very fast. The band had succesfully auditioned in London. Visas arranged, various vaccinations had been administered, yes the band, wives &  tons of equipment was being flown to Johannesburg, South Africa, all paid for on a six month contract, plus an optional further six months if we wanted.  Unknown to me , my Charecter ,  & the course of my life was  about to change forever.

Peter Bacon of 'Southern Sun International' picked up a rather tired and bedraggled bunch of brits from 'Jan Smuts' Airport Johanessburg. Enroute to what would be  our new home & venue for eight months. We were driven  for miles along an avenue of Jacuranda trees in full bloom,  they really were beautiful and a welcome sight after hours of travelling,  perhaps for that reason I will always remember that last leg of our journey to this day.   

The 'Southern Sun' Hotel Chain was owned by Entrepenour 'Sol Kerzner' (more about him later) 'The Landrost' was his  latest 'new baby', a brand new built 'five star' hotel in the centre of Jo.burg, the oppulance of which far outshone any other hotel in the area. We were completely gobsmacked by our new luxurious surroundings complete with persian carpets, marbled floors, diamond crystal chandeliers & polished mahagany interior. Whatsmore we were to 'live in' as guests. Yes if we wanted a steak sandwich  at 3.o clock  in the morning, no worries, 'roomservice' was available 24 : 7 . 

The view up Twist Street to Hillbrow  from our room on the seventh floor . 

Our Band was to be resident at the hotels' very sophisticated Night club on the top floor named   'Annabels'    designed on a french theme with A La Carte resturant . Our opening night was a very elegant  affair with the press & their critics all present to reveiw ourselves, the room & the main caberet, no other than the iconic french star ''Sasha Distell''. 

 He had brought his own band along so it was a chance for us to step off stage , enjoy a  fantastic show & wallow in the luxury of our new permanent  surroundings. 

As expected Sacha Distell & his band excelled.  The whole evening was a resounding success, after which  the party went on  into the early hours of the morning. 

Sacha Distell was a very  accomplished guitarist which surprises most people.  It was after the audience had left, I stood at the back admiring his band who were jamming  on stage. A voice  in my ear said ''not bad hey''? I said  ''absolutly brilliant'', as I turned round to come face to face with Sacha . We ended up chatting & drinking fine Champagne late into the early hours.  I'll always remember at this point in time thinking ''I have finally made it as a professional musician''. here I was looking out on the sparkling lights, (albeit  slightly hazy) of Johannesburg's skyline chatting to Sacha Distell,  drinking the best Champagne. All those years of piano practice had finally paid off.    

The following day We posed for pictures with Sacha Distel. (great bloke by the way)  

1973 Johanessburg South Africa ''The Landrost''

  THE LANDROST

1973 Tribal 'Mine Dancers' Johannesburg

Sundays were a day to visit some of the many interesting sites, like the 'Gold mine' dancers  where the atmosphere was very exciting. 

1973 The Landdrost

The Landrost had many celebrity guests either staying at the hotel while appearing ay various theatres in town or as caberets at Annibals our residency. here is Rolf Harris who appeared on stage with us.

My first car in SA the trusty 'Volkswagon Beetle'

Our first car , which would take us across the Karoo desert on the trek from Jo-burg to Cape town

Before leaving the UK a live recording was made of ''Blend'' at ''Pontins Hemsby''
a selection of sample tracks can be heard here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E724jc63nkw

Mr. Sol Kerzner

Sol Kerzner was , & still is the richest & most powerful man I've ever known personally . Even in the 70s he was managing director & founder of the most successful hotel group in South Africa. From humble jewish beginnings to becoming  multi Billionair, Sol ruled the company with an iron hand.

Mr. Sol Kerzner.

I could tell many tales of the estravagent lifestyle of Sol Kerzner, but it is of little interest to those who are unfamiliar with him. However if interested just google his name to learn of his many enterprizes. 

 Sol had arrived in Jo-burg by  his private jet to oversee the initial opening of his latest baby 'The Landdrost',  he would be seen going from one part of the hotel to the next at almost trotting speed with his usual entourage of under managers following in his wake noting down changes ,adjustments etc. that he felt fit. However he seemed to relax in 'Annabels' even joining in the general atmosphere of the  entertainment 

One day I remember him taking us to one side to offer us advice on the sort of program he wanted the evenings to follow. Firstly the music has to be non-stop. in other words no breaks between each song... to perhaps take a well deserved slurp of beer, or to prepare the next number. Oh no ...no such luxuries. The next song must start as the previous one finished, for the musically minded 'Segue' for the whole session. Any verbal introductions or chat must be over the top of the intro .'Gary' a master in keeping perfect time was allocated to count in the next song while the previous one was still playing. The art was to  make the change smoothly and unnoticeable. very very difficult to get to grips with but something  we soon aquired   and was to be a very good rule from then on to ensure a lively night.

His second gripe was 'my organ' (how very dare he) . was this to be a trip to the  taylors to order new trousers that are not 'quite so tight' ?  eh..... No...... he meant my 'Hammond' organ. Being designed to sit against a wall, the back of the instrument is very bland with vents cut out to allow the heat from the glass valves to escape  generally to keep cool. Unfortunately in this case it now faced the audience, as I did & in Sol's world this just wasn't good enough. To address this problem was to employ a' master craftsman' the whole next day to paint the back & sign write our name 'Blend' across it in.... wait for it..... 22 carat gold leaf.   That now makes the value of my organ  approx. four times  it was when it left the UK.!.  

'Hotel Magnet' Sol was to expand his empire into America , Dubia, and peaked in South Africa with the opening in 1979 of ''Sun City'' a huge Luxury Casino & Resort built in the North West Province.

     

Mr Harry Murray

The management of the Landrost were mainly British ex-pats who had come to South Africa to hopefully climb the ladder of success in a relatively young & wealthy country. The manager of our hotel was Harry Murray a young ambitous & very mischeveous  Brit from  Stoke - on -Trent
         Harry was very instrumental in making our first six months in the country very comfortable indeed.

"KEEPING TIME " By Gary Woods

            Gary Woods Recorded his life by publishing his autobiography in 2010.
                     Here are extracts relating to our period in South Africa.