David Kramer se bekendheid strek wyer as die Karoovlaktes. Sy weghol-treffers en oorrompelende glimlag in die Volkswagen-advertensies het in die 1980's 'n huishoudelike naam van hom gemaak. Net meer as 'n dekade later het sy musiekblyspele saam met Taliep Petersen internasionale roem gebring met vertonings op die West End en Broadway. Maar wie is die man agter die kitaar en die rooi velskoene? Die biografie onthul 'n woordkunstenaar wat kan toor met Afrikaans, 'n slim sakeman en iemand met sterk beginsels wat opstaan teen ongeregtigheid. Die boek vertel van sy grootwordjare in Worcester en hoe hy sy stem as kunstenaar gevind het. Dit vertel ook van die uiters private mens agter die "almal se pel"-persona en van die skadukant van skielike roem. Kramer se lewenslange droom om 'n stem te gee aan die randfigure binne die Afrikaanse leefwereld het die afgelope dekade 'n werklikheid geword namate hy die werk van bruin folk musikante van die Karoo begin opteken het. As musikale antropoloog het hy 'n groot bydrae gelewer om ons verstaan van Suid-Afrikaanse musiek verder uit te brei. Die onthullende boek bied 'n rare blik op wat agter die skerms gebeur het in die loopbaan en die lewe van een van ons gewildste musikante.

David Kramer: A Biography is the first book on the life and work of this South African icon.

From the Worcester of Kramer’s childhood, where he first discovered his talent as a performer, this biography follows him to the UK where he studied textile design before returning to South Africa to release his first album Bakgat! Though banned by the SABC, the album nevertheless paved the way for his phenomenal success with albums such as The Story of Blokkies Joubert, Delicious Monster and Hanepootpad.

But sudden fame also had a downside. By the mid-eighties, Kramer’s ‘almal se pel’ persona was threatening to take over his life. He found a new creative outlet in his collaboration with Taliep Petersen with whom he produced the runaway hit District Six – The Musical. This partnership would bring the pair international fame: Kat and the Kings became the first South African musical to play on both the West End and Broadway.

Kramer realised early on that his creativity was fed by a uniquely South African experience. His lifelong dream – to uncover a local folk music tradition – was realised when he recorded and popularised the music of Karoo artists. His ground-breaking work led to the widely acclaimed Karoo Kitaar Blues show and CD.

David Kramer’s unique talent has put him at the centre of the South African music industry for the past three decades. In this revealing biography the authors share their insights into the man and his work.