Lance James

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Lance James
Birth nameLance James Liebenberg
Also known as"Big Daddy"
Born(1938-07-18)July 18, 1938
Germiston, South Africa
DiedMarch 2, 2020(2020-03-02) (aged 81)
Johannesburg, South Africa
GenresCountry
Occupation(s)Singer, radio host
Websitelancejames.co.za

Lance James (18 July 1938 – 2 March 2020) was a South African country singer and radio broadcaster (Springbok Radio, 1954–1985). Some of his hits include Thank You, Vicki and Ahoy, Madagascar Ahoy !.[1] During Huisgenoot's 2009 Skouspel he (along with nine other singers) was honored for their lifelong contribution to Afrikaans and South African music.[2]

Early life[edit]

Lance James Liebenberg was born 1938 in Germiston on the East Rand of Johannesburg.[3][4] He married Valerie Mary Wilson and they had two children Chanel Liebenberg and Dionne Liebenberg.

Career[edit]

He worked at the SABC on Springbok Radio from 1954 until 1985.[5] At the radio station, he was a presenter on two shows, Keep it Country on Sundays and Munt uit Musiek.[6]: 14 

An autobiography, Dankie by Francois van Oudtshoorn was published in 2015.[6]: 14  His final album came out in 2019, called Swan Song.[6]: 14 

Death[edit]

Suffering from heart problems and other aged health issues, he was admitted to a Johannesburg hospital in 2020.[7]: 2  There he broke a hip and would later pass away from an infection after hip surgery, several weeks in hospital.[7]: 2 [3] He is survived by his two daughters Chanel and Dionne, three grandchildren Tyron, Declan and Lilly-Joy, son-in-law’s Glenn Floyd and Benjy Mudie, business partner Mara van der Burgh and partner Eunice Wait [3]

Honours[edit]

In 2019, he was honoured for his life work by Federasie van Afrikaanse Kulturvereniginge.[3] Other awards include a Beeld Award for contribution to Afrikaans music, a Solidarity Award, six Sarie Awards and several awards for "Best Album of the Year", and a Life Time Achievement Award.[8] On 26 January 2020, Lance was also inaugurated as a living legend in the South African Legends Museum. He was one of only 20 legends from whom a bust was also made.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Chilvers, Garth (1994). History of contemporary music of South Africa. Toga. ISBN 9780620181211.
  2. ^ "Veteran Afrikaans singer Lance James has died". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d Roets, Adriaan (3 March 2020). "Lance James dies, aged 81". The Citizen (South Africa).
  4. ^ "EXCLUSIVE: Remembering a legend (Video)". Brakpan Herald. 3 March 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  5. ^ "South African country singer Lance James, 81, dies". Channel24. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  6. ^ a b c Roets, Adriaan (7 March 2020). "Lance James: A lasting legacy". The Citizen (South Africa).
  7. ^ a b Zeeman, Kylie (4 March 2020). "Veteran Afrikaans singer Lance James". Daily Dispatch (South Africa).
  8. ^ "Legendary country singer Lance James dies". Jacaranda FM. Retrieved 13 December 2020.

External links[edit]