Capital Radio star is recalled for his unique style and skill, writes
Advocate Robin Sewlal
IT’S World Radio Day, and the theme this year is “Radio is You!”. And so it should be. This wonderful medium cannot thrive without taking the listener into account.
Just as the individual tunes in whether in his/her home, car, workplace or mobile apparatus, the management of the station must be in touch with the needs and wants of its listeners.
After all, one of the appealing elements of radio is the personal connection between the presenter and the listener. Radio is an intimate medium that provides companionship to the listener.
It’s powerful in the sense of engaging, enchanting and elevating across the globe. The top-down approach has long fallen into disfavour.
Listener
Even executives of commercial radio stations have begun to realise the “listener is king”.
One of the country’s greatest broadcasters who always treasured the close connection with the listener was Oscar Renzi.
Saturday marked the 25th anniversary of the passing on of the gentleman who ignited the airwaves of Capital Radio.
He put a sparkle in many an ear with his trademark personable style.
Oscar and I became friends soon after Capital Radio started broadcasts on December 26, 1979, from the stunningly beautiful Wild Coast, Transkei.
He was born Oscar van Rensberg in 1945 in Vryheid, and once told me that he had an eye for the entertainment environment from a very early age.
Hailing from the humblest of beginnings, Oscar qualified as a welder and also worked as an accountant, but the urge to become an entertainer was an apex priority.
His unmistakable voice led to Oscar being dubbed the “Brook Benton of South Africa.”
He started a musical outfit called the Quavers in 1959, and five years later it won the “Battle of Voices” competition. Tragedy struck when a member was killed.
The band folded, denying it the opportunity to take up an offer to travel to Switzerland.
Oscar decided to pursue a solo career.
His talent was appreciated throughout the land on the Sammy Brown shows. Oscar performed in neighbouring countries too.
In the early 1970s, the versatile Oscar recorded a song titled True Confessions.
It came as no surprise that he was being sought by promoters throughout the entertainment industry.
Oscar landed the role as Crown in the opera production Porgy and Bess. He thereafter made several stage appearances. Soon he was on the big screen. All the while, Oscar was building a sizeable record collection at home.
With an inexpensive microphone, he began introducing songs and having the links recorded on cassette which he named “Radio Renzi”.
It was one of these productions that attracted the attention of those looking for presenters for an independent station in southern Africa.
Unbeknown to Oscar, a friend had taken one of the Radio Renzi shows to the would-be station.
To his pleasant surprise, Oscar received an offer through the post to join Capital Radio.
The hugely successful journey on-air of an entertainer was taking off. Oscar never looked back.
He became a household name on the station, hosting numerous shows – The Earlybird, The Late Show, The Wiz is Oz, The Oscar Renzi Music Power Party, and Steppin’ Out.
He popularised the message-music of artists such as Joan Armatrading, Al Jarreau, Luther Vandross, Teddy Pendergrass, Earl Klugh and Sadaq Watanabe.
One of his all-time favourite songs was Hotel California by the Eagles. On his Friday and Saturday shows, he played the latest dance music.
It became compulsory listening for club and mobile DJ’s as Oscar’s influence was huge and widespread.
It is no secret that he was the envy of just about every other radio station boss.
My friendship with Oscar intensified in the early 1980s, so much so that he asked me to manage his activities.
Filled with pride, it was an offer I could not say no to. By then, he was already calling my parents Mum and Dad.
I conceived and produced his Moonlight Memory feature on Sundays on Capital Radio.
I also had the privilege of producing the tribute shows on Marvin Gaye and Bob Marley.
The velvet-voiced Hairy Godfather left an impression on everyone he came into contact with, whether through his on-air work or string of public appearances.
In short, he was a larger than life character. Oscar’s enormous popularity meant that he was in constant demand and he was lighting up the dance floors at a string of
popular venues including Club 527, Aquarius, Pelican, Wheel, Shakiles, Sunray, Airport 3, Mermaid, Blitz, Whispers, and Asoka.
When not strutting his stuff in the clubs, Oscar was a guest at in-store promotions and launch events as well as programme director at functions and a judge at competitions.
Always a sport, he was part of the Capital Cloggers.
He played his final football match when the team took on Radio 702 in Johannesburg.
A tackle resulted in Oscar fracturing his foot (the perpetrator will remain nameless for now!).
When Audwax Music Radio was thought of at the then University of Durban-Westville, it was Oscar who performed the honour of launching the station.
Whether Oscar was broadcasting his shows from the studios at the Milpark Galleries in Joburg, Workshop or South Beach, he was the master of the microphone. The memories are many and marvellous.
Through Oscar, I had the privilege of being on Capital Radio. Capital Beat, broadcast on Friday nights, gave local artists and groups exposure for the very first time on radio.
Oscar always told me that he thoroughly enjoyed our on-air banter. I must say it was absolute fun.
Oscar Renzi is long gone but the legacy he left in the entertainment fraternity, especially that of radio, is unmatched.
Through his work, off and on-air, his focus was always the audience. He will forever be a legend! Sewlal is the associate director: journalism at the Durban University of Technology. He is currently compiling a publication dedicated to the memory of Oscar Renzi. If you have any memories or photos of Oscar to share, e-mail radiocracy@hotmail.com