Kurt Johan van Heerden (born 19 February 1970), better known as Kurt Darren, is a South African singer, songwriter and television presenter, who won seven

South African Music Awards The South African Music Awards (often simply the SAMAs) are the Recording Industry of South Africa's music industry awards, established in 1995. The ceremony is held annually, usually in late April or May, with the judging process starting in N ...

(SAMA) from 2007 to 2011. He has also appeared in a number of South African films. His debut was with the album ''For Your Precious Love'' released in 1995. From 2006 to 2011, Darren was the presenter of the popular South African show ''Jukebox'' broadcast on kykNET. During the programme, callers would have the opportunity to request and dedicate music videos of their choice. SMS (text) messages would also roll in during the program. The program was broadcast live on various radio stations as well on Sunday evenings.

Popularity in Europe

Many of Kurt Darren's songs in

Afrikaans Afrikaans (, ) is a West Germanic language that evolved in the Dutch Cape Colony from the Dutch vernacular of Holland proper (i.e., the Hollandic dialect) used by Dutch, French, and German settlers and their enslaved people. Afrikaans gra ...

are known in Europe through cover versions particularly by artists in the

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

and Belgium, and to some extent in Germany and Austria. Songs covered in Dutch include "Staan Op", covered by Jan Smit as "Sta Op", "Meisie Meisie" by

Henk Wijngaard Henk Wijngaard (b. Stadskanaal, June 13, 1946) is a Dutch country singer. Personal life He was born in Stadskanaal. Wijngaard's mother was a refugee from France and his father a Canadian allied soldier. He was initially employed as a truck dri ...

as "Meissie Meissie", "Kaptein Span die Seile" as "Kap'tein" by

Bart Kaëll Bart Kaëll (born 2 August 1960 in Oudenaarde) is the stage name of Bart Marcel Emilienne Gyselinck, a Flemish singer and TV host. Career Kaëll studied music in Antwerp, after finishing school he landed a job as a singer and in 1982 he took pa ...

, "Hemel op Tafelberg" as "Die Zomer Gaat Nooit Voorbij" by

Wim Soutaer thumb Wim Soutaer (born 27 June 1974) is a Belgian singer best known for placing third in ''Idool 2003'', the Belgian version of ''Pop Idol''. Biography Soutaer began singing in the early 1990s with his school band ''State Of Mind'' who performe ...

, "Af en af" by Helemaal Hollands and "Bloubergstrand se sonsak" as "Dromendans" by Vinzzent, while Klostertaler covered "Meisie Meisie" in German and

Mickie Krause Mickie Krause (born Michael Engels on June 21, 1970), a native of Wettringen, is a singer of German Schlager. His notoriety exploded in Germany in 1999 with his hit 'Zehn nackte Friseusen' '(Ten nude hairdressers).http://www.schlagerplanet.com/ ...

covered "Kaptein Span die Seile" in German as "Chantal".

Personal life

In 2009 Kurt Darren set a new record for "bokdrol vêr spoeg" a traditional South African sport at church carnivals. Darren married South African model Dunay Nortjé on 8 January 2011. They have a daughter, Kyrah, and a son, Kade. On 7 July 2013, Darren suffered serious injuries as a result of a car accident on his way home after watching a rugby match. His agent Marnus Bisschoff and his secretary were also seriously injured. All were airlifted urgently to hospital, where tests showed Darren had 11 broken ribs and serious injuries to his head. He was released after weeks of treatment.Channel24: Kurt is walking again after crash
/ref> Many of his scheduled concerts had to be canceled. He returned to active life months later with a rescheduled gig dates and a tour in US and Europe beginning in 2014.

Discography

CDs

*1995: ''For Your Precious Love'' *1997: ''Just When I Needed You Most'' *1998: ''Kurt Darren'' *2000: ''Since I Found You'' *2001: ''Net Jy Alleen'' *2002: ''Meisie Meisie'' *2003: ''Sê Net Ja'' *2004: ''Staan Op'' *2005: ''Vat my, maak my joune'' *2006: ''Lekker Lekker'' *2007: ''Voorwaarts Mars'' *2008: ''30 Goue Sokkietreffers'' *2008: ''Uit die diepte van my hart'' *2009: ''Smiling Back At Me'' *2009: ''Die Beste Medisyne'' *2010: ''Met Liefde/With Love'' *2010: ''Oos-Wes Tuis Bes'' (Deluxe edition) *2011: ''Kurt Kaptein se platinum treffers'' *2012: ''In jou oë'' *2014: ''Seerower'' *2015: ''Lied Vir Die Vrou'' *2016: ''Sal Jy Met My Dans?'' *2017: ''Laat Die Dansvloer Brand'' *2019: ''#Partytjiedier''

Singles / Videography

(Selective) ;in Afrikaans *"Meisie Meisie" *"Staan Op" *"Kom ons Dans In Afrikaans" *"Kaptein" *"Af en af" *"Lekker Lekke" (2007) *"Voorwaarts Mars" (2008) *"Hemel op Tafelberg" (2009) *"Daar Doer in die Donker" (2008) *"Loslappie" (2009) *"Bloubergstrand se sonsak" (2010) *"Lekkerbekkie" (2011) *"Heidi" (2012) *"Stoomtrein" (feat.

Snotkop Francois Henning (born December 22, 1974), better known by his stage name Snotkop (, and previously known as Lekgoa , is a South African people, South African singer and rapper of Afrikaans. He started his music career at age 15 preparing demo ...

) (2012

*"Kom bietjie hier" (2012

*"Cowboys en crooks" (2014) *"Dans op die Tafel (2014) *"Ek wens vir jou" (2015) *"Kaalvoet sokkie" (2016) *"Jy's 'n Legend' (2017) *"Selfie Song" (with Leah & Snotkop) (2017) ;in Dutch *"Voor Altijd" (2013) ;in English *"You" *"Standing On The Edge" *"Sunday" ;featured in *" Shame & Scandal, Shame and Scandals" ( Dr. Victor & The Rasta Rebels feat. Kurt Darren) (2012)

DVDs

*2005: Op Toer *2008: Treffers Live *2008: Die video's

Filmography

*2010: ''Liefling'' *2010: ''Susanna van Biljon'' *2010: ''The Race-ist'' *2011: ''Ek lief jou'' *2015: ''Stone Cold Jane Austen'' *2017: '' Van Der Merwe''

References

External links

Kurt Darren Official websiteKurt Darren FacebookKurt Darren / Select YouTube
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Darren, Kurt 20th-century South African male singers 21st-century South African male singers South African songwriters 1970 births Living people