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 ...

(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 languages, West Germanic language spoken in South Africa, Namibia and to a lesser extent Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and also Argentina where there is a group in Sarmiento, Chubut, Sarmiento that speaks the Pat ...

are known in Europe through

cover versions In popular music, a cover version, cover song, remake, revival, or simply cover is a new performance or recording by a musician other than the original performer or composer of the song. Originally, it referred to a version of a song released ...

particularly by artists in the

Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...

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

Albums

*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) (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" ;As featured artist *" 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 South African pop singers 20th-century South African male singers 21st-century South African male singers South African songwriters 1970 births Living people White South African people Afrikaans-language singers of South Africa