Now That's What I Call Music! Turns 30. A look through time.

Now That's What I Call A Long Time.

Most of us have grown up with the Now That's What I Call Music! (Now! for short) compilations. Can't actually remember a time when we didn't have them, and it's not surprising, since the first one came out in 1983. (I'm talking the UK here guys, and other parts of the world - Europe, and South Africa). The Now! series didn't come out in the United States until 1998. In South Africa the series started in 1984. It should be noted that the numbers I'm referring to relate to the UK series in this article. 

Monty Python Live at London's 02 Arena - Press Release

Phil McIntyre Entertainments very proudly present

 MONTY PYTHON LIVE (mostly)

FIVE MORE SHOWS ANNOUNCED FOR 15, 16, 18, 19, 20 JULY 2014

AT LONDON’S 02 ARENA

TICKETS GO ON-SALE FRIDAY 29 NOVEMBER AT 10AM

Catching Up With Ingi from Clout!

Any South African who listened to music in the late 70s or early 80s, or who had parents who did, knows of the South African all girl band Clout.  Their biggest hit Substitute reached number one in South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Sweden, Austria, Denmark and Belgium. Substitute was held to the #2 slot by the #1 "You're The One That I Want", from the hit musical film Grease on the UK Singles Chart and this success was followed by other major hits including Save Me, You've Got All of Me, Under Fire and Portable Radio. 

The original five members were Cindy Alter, Lee Tomlinson, Ingrid "Ingi" Herbst (now Brough), Glenda Hyam and Jenni Garson. I met with Ingi to chat about the band days and catch up! 

Catching up with Gaynor Young SA Actress

Gaynor Young is a name that will stand out to all lovers of South African theatre. 

A well known South African actress in the 1980s and currently the author of her own blog Ear Ear Blog, her inspirational story is one that should be shared and remembered, in order to help others facing challenges. 

My parents were theatre lovers back in the 80s and as such we went to a lot of plays, in all the theatres in Johannesburg including the Alhambra, Market and Rex Garner. At these I was privileged to see many South African actors of the day including Gaynor Young - extra special to me because she is my namesake, and being a shy young girl it's nice to know that an accomplished actress also has your name! -  

Our whole family was very saddened one day in 1989 when we heard of a terrible accident Gaynor had suffered falling down a lift shaft during one of her performances. It was touch and go as to whether she would survive and we listened to the radio daily for news of her condition. Survive she did, but 
she suffered brain damage and deafness. 

She chats to us about her life and how she has managed to overcome adversity. 

Pay It Forward

Everything, everybody, every post on this blog means something to me. And I like to give back what little I can when people give to me, in whatever way it is - whether it's helping me feel good, or in this case, helping my community when we were collecting for victims of a shack fire. The fire was big. More than 200 shacks went down, and more than 1000 people were affected. Our community (Ward 118 in Johannesburg) gave and gave. Surrounding communities gave and gave. And Pay It Forward came to the party in a massive way by sending us truckloads of goods from as far away as the Far East Rand! 

I asked Greg some questions. 

What is Pay It Forward all about?

 In a nutshell, one person helping another, and that person, when they are able, helping yet another.  In the hope that this will continue down the line, through a community, across the land, and beyond our borders. We NEED to Pay It Forward, to create a better World for all

Pay It Forward is the name of a movie starring the young Haley Joel Osment. Was there something that touched you about this movie and is there any reason you chose the name Pay It Forward for the organisation?

It is directly due to the book by Catherine Hyde, which was later made into the Movie, that I chose the name.  Because of the concept.  Instead of lending something to another, I believe we must give, without expectation, or want of return.  Something about the movie you ask?  Yes, from the beginning to the end it was a matter of doing for others, no matter how insignificant we may feel that ‘doing’ is.  To the receiver, it is often a mountain removed from their path

Godfrey Johnson The Shadow of Brel

UPDATE: A dream came true when I saw Godfrey Johnson with Pieter Dirk Uys in 50 Shades of Bambi.  I got to meet Godfrey who signed a CD for me! The CD's been on permanent rotation in my computer ever since. 

For all you lucky folks in Durban, Godfrey will be at the Rhumbelow Theatre from 11 - 13 April. You'd be stupid to miss it. Godfrey's a great entertainer, a great singer AND a great pianist.  It's not often you get all three together in one person! 

I never cease to be amazed by the amount of talent we have in the world and when someone is doing the thing they are talented at, it's just a joy to be a witness to. 

Some people are born to write, others are born to teach, still others are born to paint. 

Godfrey Johnson was born to be a musician. I saw him at The Old Mutual Theatre on the Square and sat enraptured and ENTERTAINED by a musician who is in a class above the run of the mill. It's an honour to feature him on my blog. 


Jacques Brel was a Belgian singer-songwriter who composed and performed literate, thoughtful, and theatrical songs that generated a large, devoted following in Belgium and France initially, and later throughout the world. How did you come to take an interest in Brel and interpret him? Tell us about the preparation and performing of “The Shadow of Brel”. 

Timothy Moloi Stars in Aladdin - and talks to me!

I first heard South African tenor Timothy Moloi performing in an open air production of Shakespeare at the Johannesburg Zoo. His voice carried across to me at the back of the audience in that blustery, open terrain, and I knew that here was a talent I wanted to follow. So my excitement was great when I heard that Timothy was about to star as Aladdin at Joburg Theatre. I knew I had to see the show, and I was very happy when Timothy agreed to do an interview for this blog! 

Born and raised in Orlando, Soweto; Timothy Moloi grew up in a home filled with song. It is this love for music, and his flair for infusing familiar and beloved standards with a new freshness, that has made him a favourite with audiences throughout South Africa. With his smooth-as-velvet voice and masterful range, Timothy is one of South Africa’s most extraordinary talents.

He returned to South Africa in 1999, having completed his studies at Ohio Wesleyan University in the USA. Since then Timothy has led a busy performance schedule, and has performed with the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra, the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra, the East Cape Philharmonic, the Electric Pops Orchestra, the Johannesburg Festival Orchestra, the Johannesburg Big Band and the Soweto Gospel Choir.

Amy Yasbeck chats to us about The John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health

Amy Yasbeck and Critter Ritter

Click the picture to order your shirt and support
the foundation.

I remember the day well - standing in front of the TV in sad, shocked, silence as the announcer told us that John Ritter had passed away suddenly. A lot of celebs had passed away, but John Ritter's death was on the same level as that of Princess Diana - you just knew that we had lost somebody amazing. We still feel that loss today, but MORE than that - John Ritter still makes us laugh today. In my own family, we have spent most of this year laughing at Jack Tripper as we rediscovered Three's Company and all his other work. Well - I rediscovered it, my children discovered it for the first time. And when, like me, and like my son, you struggle with issues such as depression and social anxiety and you suddenly find solace and peace in the work of someone who just makes you LAUGH, you want to give something back.

It's with this in mind that I contacted the John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health. I wanted to know more about the heart defect which had taken John Ritter from us, but I also wanted to see if there was some way that I in South Africa could say thank you. I seem to remember hearing that John Ritter once said that he would like to find a cure for a disease, and the best way of saying thank you is by spreading word about aortic health.

I'm immensely grateful (and star struck!) to receive such wonderful information as has been provided to us by Amy Yasbeck - star of Problem Child, Wings, and many others, wife of John Ritter and founder of The John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health.

Rocky Horror Picture Show in Johannesburg 2014

THE FUGARDTHEATRE’S THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW COMES TO JOHANNESBURG!

Let's do the Time Warp again! 

Produced by Eric Abraham and the Fugard Theatre, Richard O’Brien’s iconic smash hit rock musical THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW which has set Cape Town alight for months, is set to come to Pieter Toerien’s Montecasino Theatrein January 2014!

The Fugard Theatre’s production of this global musical sensation is currently enjoying a sold out season at the Fugard Theatre in Cape Town. The production has played to capacity houses at every performance since opening on the 10^th July 2013. To meet the massive demand for tickets, the Fugard Theatre recently announced one final Cape Town extension which will see the production bring its final curtain down in Cape Town on the 12^th January 2014.

THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW then transfers and opens at Pieter Toerien’s Montecasino Theatre in Johannesburg on the 24^th January 2014 for a very limited 10 week season only. The production must close on Sunday 30 March 2014.