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I am one of ten children born during a time when inequality and oppression was the norm in South Africa. Growing up in Ravensmead, Cape Town, I faced material as well as emotional poverty every single day of my childhood. My circumstances and environment gave me no reason to continue going to school. At the age of fourteen years old I ventured into the world, unprepared and unskilled. Everything dictated that life would be short, dirty and meaningless for me. But I had a vision, a goal that I passionately pursued. The goal was to make a difference in society, starting with me. I married my wife Maureen in 1977 and in that same year we both became committed Christians. We have four beautiful children, two boys and two girls In 1979 I started making music and realized that this is a powerful tool for me to accomplish my goals and pursue my vision. My music is not only confined to stages and churches, but, schools, prisons, hospitals and street corners. I have travelled the Far East, Europe, USA and New Zealand. I composed songs for other well-known artists nationally and internationally. In 1974 I composed my first song called "She's gone" and my second in 1976 named "Stop the rain". In 1985 we relocated to Eersterust, Pretoria. Living in Eersterust, I was not obsessed or defeated by my more than difficult childhood. I became engrossed in community work, trying to bring hope to the lives of people who were more and less fortunate than myself, and are trying get out of the dark abyss of their lives. In 1990 I, despite my "birth without hope", had established a Community Development Organization called "Youth Development Outreach" (YDO). More than sixteen years later, the organization still exists and grows, with a very competent management team taking it into the future. Today, YDO is one of the only sustainable training centres in the Eersterust-community, with a successful track record of an "Awaiting Trail Youth Restorative Justice Program" that truly makes a difference. In 1994, the boy who saw no reason to go to High School, wrote and passed his matric examination, as an adult who overcame what life dictated, laying the foundation to qualify myself with more skills that enabled me to live towards a prosperous future. With YDO well established and responsible management in place, in 1996 and living a very different future from the one so many people expected, moved to Port Elizabeth, where my unfailing commitment to my vision continued. For good reason, in 2000, I was asked to become station manager of Radio Kingfisher, the only Christian radio station in Port Elizabeth. At that time Radio Kingfisher was experiencing many and varied difficulties, threatening its existence. Amongst other things, the radio station lost its broadcasting license to a competitor. My leadership and management skill was desperately needed. This is another example of how "life with hope" leads to a prosperous future. Not only for the individual who lives with hope, but for everyone and everything he or she influences. By 2002, Radio Kingfisher was granted a permanent four-year broadcast license, for the first time. At the end of 2006, Radio Kingfisher is re-launched as Kingfisher FM, moving towards greater heights as a model community radio station that truly works. I have been blessed with the life I have been given. It could have been very different. Instead of dying defeated, I lived successfully, while changing people's lives. I want to empower as may people in my lifetime here on earth. My desire is for people, facing these same obstacles like me, to have this same life of hope. They must live life to the fullest. ........... read more |
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A year later, after my conversion, I started singing in churches and other musical events. My song "Step by Step" became an instant success on both Secular and Gospel charts in 1984. My music is recorded and being performed by my brother Neville Nash (Paulson) and various top artists both locally and internationally. I am perhaps more known for my hit songs "Môre sal die son weer Skyn" and "Step by Step".
