Koos Ras
Encyclopedia
Koos Ras was born on August 4, 1928, on a farm named Paardekop in Northern Natal Province
in South Africa
. As a young boy he often visited his father's neighbour (name unknown), who taught him how to play a "Konsertina
".
Ras was famously known as a comedian, singer, composer, writer and businessman. He recorded 14 LP records including Spoke ("Ghosts"), Lekker ou braaivleis aand ("Pleasant barbecue evening"). Although most of his music was in Afrikaans
, he also recorded a few songs in English
. During the 1960s he recorded a classic waltz
, "Tiny Bubbles," as a duet with (name unknown), which hit #1 on the Springbok Hit Parade.
In 1971, he opened his business "Kempton Orrel en Klavier Sentrum" (Kempton Organ and Piano Centre). Ras and his wife Bea supplied music instruments and music tuition books to schools, churches and private individuals.
Koos died on April 17, 1997. The music centre closed in 2001.
Natal Province
Natal, meaning "Christmas" in Portuguese, was a province of South Africa from 1910 until 1994. Its capital was Pietermaritzburg. The Natal Province included the bantustan of KwaZulu...
in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. As a young boy he often visited his father's neighbour (name unknown), who taught him how to play a "Konsertina
Concertina
A concertina is a free-reed musical instrument, like the various accordions and the harmonica. It has a bellows and buttons typically on both ends of it. When pressed, the buttons travel in the same direction as the bellows, unlike accordion buttons which travel perpendicularly to it...
".
Ras was famously known as a comedian, singer, composer, writer and businessman. He recorded 14 LP records including Spoke ("Ghosts"), Lekker ou braaivleis aand ("Pleasant barbecue evening"). Although most of his music was in Afrikaans
Afrikaans
Afrikaans is a West Germanic language, spoken natively in South Africa and Namibia. It is a daughter language of Dutch, originating in its 17th century dialects, collectively referred to as Cape Dutch .Afrikaans is a daughter language of Dutch; see , , , , , .Afrikaans was historically called Cape...
, he also recorded a few songs in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
. During the 1960s he recorded a classic waltz
Waltz
The waltz is a ballroom and folk dance in time, performed primarily in closed position.- History :There are several references to a sliding or gliding dance,- a waltz, from the 16th century including the representations of the printer H.S. Beheim...
, "Tiny Bubbles," as a duet with (name unknown), which hit #1 on the Springbok Hit Parade.
In 1971, he opened his business "Kempton Orrel en Klavier Sentrum" (Kempton Organ and Piano Centre). Ras and his wife Bea supplied music instruments and music tuition books to schools, churches and private individuals.
Koos died on April 17, 1997. The music centre closed in 2001.