At the 'Rapport Tussen Tuine' picnic concert, young children frolicked and dashed up the podium stairs to take a closer look at their favourite singer. Decked out in pink Elvis's four year old daughter, Lila, was rewarded with a spontaneous kiss when she could no longer contain her excitement at seeing her father perform.
Elvis, or Jan Hoogendyk (his real name), sang most of his favourite songs for his George fans who rhythmically swayed and clapped hands to Things my Father said, Lighthouse, Save Me and Right here, Right now, as well as a songswritten for his wife Chireze - Dangerous. Also Spore (Footprints), the second single from the album released in November 2013. Seengebed, another single that is featured on the album, is actually an Afrikaans translation of the South African National Anthem, Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika (performed with Afrikaans singer Coenie de Villiers) and was one of the last numbers he sang at the picnic.
His versatility in musical genres, and his ability to sing equally well in Afrikaans and English was appreciated by his audience.
This no doubt keeps him in the popularity stakes (in the 12 December issue of Heat magazine South Africa it was announced that Elvis was voted by the readers as the second 'hottest celebrity' on the Heat Hot 100 list for 2013. This list consist of both international and local celebs).
Elvis is still very much in demand; giving concerts all over South Africa and his family is always overjoyed to have him home for a few days, said Chireze on Sunday.
The performance organised by Rapport, in conjunction with Hilltop Live, was attended by 280 people. Part of the concert's proceeds will go towards the garden's funds.
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Old colleagues Adrie and Shanki Pienaar fondly remember Elvis as a Eden congregation praise and worship lead singer at the church before he became an Idol's celebrity in 2000.
ARTICLE: PAULINE LOURENS, GEORGE HERALD JOURNALIST
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