{"id":1159,"date":"2013-12-20T12:37:34","date_gmt":"2013-12-20T11:37:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/buzzsouthafrica.com\/?p=1159"},"modified":"2020-08-01T21:17:05","modified_gmt":"2020-08-01T20:17:05","slug":"kurt-darren","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buzzsouthafrica.com\/kurt-darren\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Kurt Darren"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kurt Darren, also known as big KD, is a popular South African Afrikaans singer<\/a> and songwriter who also famed<\/span> as one of the <\/span>most celebrated media personalities<\/a> in South Africa. Having started his music career in 1995, the superstar rose to prominence following the release of his hit album, Meisle Meisle, in 2002. His ability to produce\u00a0music both in Afrikaans and the English language, as well as his electrifying dance steps, have made him one of the most beloved music stars in South Africa.<\/span><\/p>\n

Darren’s talents also extend beyond South Africa as many of his songs have been translated and related in various European countries, including Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, and Belgium, to mention a few. The singer has equally embarked on several music tours that have seen him perform in the United States and the United Kingdom, among others.<\/p>\n

Asides being a musician, Kurt Darren is also famous for his various stints as an actor, as well as television\/radio presenter. Even though he is such a public figure, little is known about the life of this popular South African celebrity, mostly because he does not like being subjected to the full glare associated with media and its overrated ideas about the life of celebrities. That being said, below are some facts you probably didn’t know about Kurt Darren.<\/p>\n

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Kurt Darren<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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1. Kurt Darren Was Born And Raised in Pretoria, South Africa<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The South African music star was born as Kurt Kurt Johan van Heerden on the 19th of February 1970 in Pretoria, South Africa. He spent his formative years in his native Pretoria, where he attended Lyttleton Manor High School, located in the suburb of Pretoria. His father is of Afrikaner descent while his mother is of English origin. This explains why the artist is so fluent in both English and Afrikaans languages.<\/p>\n

Standing at a height of 1.92m, with a pair of blue eyes, Kurt is said to have inherited his musical talent from his mother, who is a good singer, although she didn’t pursue a career in music. His interest in entertainment began to grow during his days at Lyttleton Manor High, where he was a part of various musicals and school plays. Interestingly, his ability to write and perform his songs with a mix of both Afrikaans and English has made him one of the most outstanding artists in the Rainbow Nation. When he is not making\u00a0music, Darren enjoys fishing, scuba diving, parachuting, reading, and golf.<\/p>\n

2. Before His <\/strong>M<\/strong>usical Career, Kurt Served in the Military<\/strong><\/h3>\n

As strange as it may sound, Kurt Darren was at one time an army man. After completing his high school education in the mid-1980s, the music star applied for a position within the military and was accepted. He did his basic military training at Walvisbay military camp and was later posted to the army entertainment unit, where his passion for music was nurtured.<\/p>\n

Although he toured with the army entertainment unit for one year, Kurt realized that his life long dream is to be a music star. He was greatly discouraged\u00a0at the time, with many saying he can’t make a living out of singing. Consequently, Darren left the military, and afterward, he decided to try his hands at different things. Due to his passion for nature, the singer briefly served as a game warden and tour guide at the Kruger National Park before joining his family\u2019s construction business. However, he later ditched his construction job to focus on his music career.<\/p>\n

\"Kurt<\/a><\/p>\n

3. He Started His Music Career in 1995<\/strong><\/h3>\n

After leaving the construction industry, Kurt Darren went on to start his music career in 1995. At the initial stages of his career, Darren faced lots of difficulties and was a struggling underground artist for over 7 years before he got his big break in the South African entertainment industry. He sang ballads, motionless on a chair, with a microphone in his hand, and also performed at smaller venues, including corporate functions and bars.<\/p>\n

The singer also joined a couple of hip hop groups, including Keep Your Day Job and Deep Blue. However, he earned his breakthrough in 2002 with the release of his song ‘Meisle Meisle.’ This album, which was done in the Afrikaans language, went on to establish him as a household name in South Africa. It sold over 60,00 copies after its release, a big feat at that time. Since his big break, the singer has never looked back since then.<\/p>\n

4. The Singer Currently Has Over Twenty <\/strong>M<\/strong>usical Albums<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In the course of his career, which has spanned over two decades and still counting, Kurt Darren has released over twenty albums, including fourteen solo albums. Asides his solo career, the singer has equally done lots of collaboration with other prominent artists in South Africa, some of which include Don Kelly and Marc Brendon. His breakthrough album, Meisle Meisle, which has been certified Double Platinum, was one of the top 3 hits of 2002. It was while recording the album that his path crossed with that of Marc Brendon and Don Kelly. These three have been complementing each others’ songwriting skills since then. Below is a list of Kurt Darren’s albums in the order of their release.<\/p>\n

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  • For Your Precious Love\u00a0(1995)<\/li>\n
  • Just When I Needed You Most\u00a0(1997)<\/li>\n
  • Kurt Darren\u00a0(1998)<\/li>\n
  • Since I Found You\u00a0(2000)<\/li>\n
  • Net Jy Alleen (2001)<\/li>\n
  • Meisie Meisie (2002)<\/li>\n
  • S\u00ea Net Ja (2003)<\/li>\n
  • Staan Op (2004)<\/li>\n
  • Vat my, maak my joune (2005)<\/li>\n
  • Lekker Lekker (2006)<\/li>\n
  • Voorwaarts Mars (2007)<\/li>\n
  • 30 Goue Sokkietreffers (2008)<\/li>\n
  • Uit die diepte van my hart (2008)<\/li>\n
  • Smiling Back At Me (2009)<\/li>\n
  • Die Beste Medisyne (2009)<\/li>\n
  • Met Liefde\/With Love (2010)<\/li>\n
  • Oos-Wes Tuis Bes (Deluxe edition, 2010)<\/li>\n
  • Kurt Kaptein se platinum treffers (2011)<\/li>\n
  • In jou o\u00eb (2012)<\/li>\n
  • Seerower (2014)<\/li>\n
  • Lied Vir Die Vrou (2015)<\/li>\n
  • Sal Jy Met My Dans? (2016)<\/li>\n
  • Laat Die Dansvloer Brand (2017)<\/li>\n
  • #Partytjiedier (2019)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n