Singing car guard in huge demand

CAPE ARGUS

Alen Abrahams has become a YouTube sensation. Picture: David Ritchie

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Cape Town’s singing car guard Alen Abrahams’s future looks bright.

Big things are in place for him, says his manager Marlon Kruger. He said Abrahams was in huge demand at the moment in the country and overseas.

“He is busy juggling interviews locally and with international media groups, and bookings on a daily basis… and he loves it,” he said. “He is a natural showman and is handling his newly found fame very well.”

Abrahams, 31, of Kalksteenfontein, shot to fame at the beginning of the month after videos of him singing along to a Michael Jackson track while working as a car guard on the corner of Dorp and Loop streets were posted on YouTube.

The YouTube videos, posted by Heart 104.9FM Aden Thomas, clocked more than 15 000 hits within minutes after Abrahams appeared on the breakfast show.

Abrahams has the ability to do a parody of any song, from Justin Bieber’s Baby to Alicia Keyses Girl on Fire. He has named his singing style “OpiAfrikaans”, which he describes as “advanced Afrikaans”.

Two days after the YouTube videos went viral, EMI Records flagged and removed Abrahams’s Meisie, a rendition of Justin Bieber’s Baby for copyright infringement, and later his YouTube channel was shut down. Some of his videos have since been reloaded again on YouTube, except for Meisie.

Abrahams’s fans took to social networks to express their disgust with EMI’s move, with some threatening to boycott Justin Bieber’s South African concert next month. Kruger said Abrahams’s producer, Gabi le Roux, was negotiating with recording labels to acquire rights for the songs Abrahams plans to feature in his album. Once that is achieved they plan to start recording his début album, he said.

Kruger said: “At the moment we are working towards reaching 500 000 views on his (Abrahams) YouTube videos collectively. We have a special surprise planned when we get there… it’s going to be big.”

Abrahams performed for the first time on stage last Thursday, in front of screaming fans at a Valentine’s Day function held at GrandWest Casino.

“He was over the moon, overwhelmed and moved to tears. People were asking for his autograph and posing for pictures with him… with some even throwing money at him on stage. He is a celebrity now,” said Kruger.

Abrahams will perform at the annual The Klein Karoo National Arts Festival (KKNK) in Oudtshoorn from March 29 to April 6. The festival attracts more than 1 000 visual and performing artists and is considered the country’s largest arts festival.

Abrahams is also preparing for his first big concert where he will be sharing the stage with SA’s Got Talent winner James Bhemgee and Idols winner Khaya Mthethwa, among others, on March 28 at Grand Arena, GrandWest.

“He (Abrahams) is comfortable with the limelight… it’s as if he was born to perform and making people laugh,” said Kruger.

nontando.mposo@inl.co.za

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