Johannes Kerkorrel

Johannes Kerkorrel (27 March 1960 – 12 November 2002), born Ralph John Rabie, was a South African singer-songwriter, journalist and playwright.

Career Rabie, who was born in Johannesburg, worked as a journalist for the Afrikaans newspapers Die Burger and Rapport. In 1986, Rabie started performing politically themed cabaret at arts festivals under his new stage name (kerkorrel meaning church organ in Afrikaans). At that time, apartheid was at its nadir under State President P.W. Botha's National Party-led government.

In 1987, Rabie was fired by Rapport for using quotes from Botha's speeches in his music; he then became a full-time musician and performer under the name Johannes Kerkorrel en die Gereformeerde Blues Band (Johannes Kerkorrel and the Reformed Blues Band), a deliberate reference to the Reformed Church. The band also included the Afrikaans singer-songwriter Koos Kombuis. Their brand of new Afrikaans music was dubbed alternatiewe Afrikaans (alternative Afrikaans) and exposed divergent political views to a new generation of Afrikaners.

Awards 1995 SAMA – Best Pop Music Performance for Cyanide in the Beefcake 2001 Geraas – Best pop album and Best adaptation for Die Ander Kant 2013 SAMA – Lifetime Achievement Award

Discography Eet Kreef (1985) Bloudruk (1992) Cyanide in the Beefcake (1994) Ge-trans-for-meer (1996) Tien Jaar Later (1998) Sing Koos du Plessis (1999) Die Ander Kant (2000) Voëlvry Die Toer (2002) Kerkorrel – Best Of: Pêrels Voor Die Swyne (2003) Hoe Ek Voel (2012) – issued to commemorate the 10 year anniversary of Rabie's death

Tributes After Rabie's death, several artists recorded tribute songs to his life and work. An incomplete list follows: Koos Kombuis - Johnny Is Nie Dood Nie Stef Bos – Pelgrimsrus Riku Lätti – Ysbeer Amanda Strydom – Ek Het Gedroom Karen Zoid – Foto Teen Die Muur Jak De Priester – Kerkorrel Kristoe Strauss – Sit Dit Self Af Jan Blohm – Johnny K Valiant Swart - Sonvanger Valiant Swart en Koos Kombuis – Kleinmond Koebaai

Covers Rabie is a much covered artist. Among the cover versions that exist are: Stef Bos – Hillbrow Riku Lätti – Somer Amanda Strydom – Hoe Ek Voel and Halala Afrika Van Coke Kartel - Energie af:Refentse Morake - Halala Afrika

Legacy The film Johnny is nie dood nie portrays a fictional group of friends meeting up after his suicide, looking back to the events leading up to the Voëlvry movement, and how his music inspired and influenced them.

the 2005 documentary Who Killed Johannes Kerkorrel explores about his life and death.