Music pumps through his veins

THE musical apple did not fall far from the tree for 54-year-old Richards Bay business owner and multiinstrumentalist Corrie Pretorius, who grew up in a musical family.

‘My father Danny was a comedian/ musician who appeared regularly on the

Maak ñ Las and Spies en Plessis shows on SABC 2 and my aunt Mimi Coertzee was a professional opera singer who was awarded the key to Vienna in Italy,’ said Pretorius.

‘My mother was a nurse and I had three siblings. ‘I started playing various musical instruments at age eight, often putting on house shows for family and friends.

‘In my grade 10 year, I performed at local pubs to earn pocket money and have been playing semiprofessionally for 15-years now, being part of a number of shows.’

Pretorius is also a registered Boxing South Africa coach who has raised his son Joshua to a number of wins in the ring and has secured him the SA Heavyweight title fight against Tian Fick on 27 November in Cape Town.

‘I made my son a promise when he wanted to become a professional boxer that I would get him a title shot, which I have managed to achieve.’

Over the years Pretorius played for numerous bands, namely Slightly Touched who played at the opening of the Boardwalk Inkwazi Shopping Centre in 1995, Bangle Vagabond which was the opening act for Mango Groove and Richards Bay duo Zeeroover, who have performed throughout the country.

‘I specialise in rock blues and am currently working on my second album.

‘The music industry in South Africa is challenging, as the 130 beat sokkie treffers do well to get radio coverage and sell commercially and then there is me who writes meaningful lyrics for the love of music.’

Pretorius plays the guitar, piano accordion, bass guitar, trumpet, violin, piano and drums.

‘For me it’s just about letting loose, losing yourself in the music and entertaining people with the skills and talent that God has given you.’