I was born in Cape Town of Dutch, German and English decent. Some of my family came to Cape Town with the early settlers to build the Cape Dutch style houses, some of which are still standing today. My dad died when I was 6 years old, so I grew up pretty fast. I had to. Used to drive my mothers car around the block when I was 9. She let me. My Mom brought up my sister and I in a fantastic way. Beautifull eyes. Light green, smiling eyes. Soft. Gentle. Caring. My Grandfather ran an extremely successful import business, importing Venetian and Czechoslovakian Glassware, Swiss made Felca watches and a variety of Dutch lamps and crockery for all the major retail outlets in South Africa. I loved going to the warehouse as a kid and looking at all the tremendous styles of vases, ornaments and glasses in stock. It made an impression. He imported the first left hand drive Cadillac into the country. My Grandmother was the President of the Victoria League for South Africa during the 2nd world war and she made sure that South Africans fighting abroad were well looked after. She was big buddies with Princess Alice. I was educated at Rondebosch Boys High School. Fantastic school. I qualified at the University of Cape Town with a Bachelor Of Commerce Honours Degree and as a Chartered Accountant.

In my youth I loved music and taught myself to play Guitar at 9 . Then as I got older, I would miss rugby practice to rush home and record all the new 60’s songs from the radio on a reel to reel tape with a microphone as close to the speaker as possible. I could sing them all. Formed a band in the 60’s and at the time we played at private parties, all the usual stuff, Beatles, Rolling Stones, Rockin Berries, Lovin Spoonfull, Animals, Gerry and The Pacemakers, Bob Dylan, etc.. Long hair, bell bottomed jeans, chelsea boots, striped t shirt. As was usual in South Africa, you must become a doctor, dentist or accountant, music they said! You must be mad!, so studies came first, hence my professional qualifications and the band disappearing. I did my time in the army as a Crew Commander of an Armoured Vechile. Someone found a guitar. On request I must have played Where Do You Go To My Lovely by Peter Sarstedt a million times for the squadron, more times than the writer himself ever did. They loved it. I played it at the oldest restaurant in France at Montmartre. Could not resist. They clapped.

After qualifying, I was selected to work in Chicago for a year. It was an awesome experience and made me realize that South Africans were right up there in ability and were equally if not more capable of matching and exceeding the best skills overseas. They asked me to stay. Home called and I wanted to get to the top.

I returned to South Africa and became a Partner in a firm of Accountants and took up Triathlon as a sport for 16 years. I represented South Africa in the age groups at numerous World Championships around the world. I spend many weeks with my triathlon friends racing in France, especially in the magnificent Quercy region of France. Secret truffle land. Sneaky searching with pigs and dogs for that black gold. I once had a truffle omelete, tasted like bolitus mushrooms? Land of Foie Gras. Rich, tasty. A treat. During this time I left the profession and joined commerce, and with my new partners, built up Longmile Limited, a JSE listed Industrial Holdings Corporation. We had significant investments in the Tyre Industry, with brand names such as: Mastertreads, Trentyre, The Good Year Tyre Co and Kwikfit Fitment Shops.

In the meantime my eldest son, Nicolaas, became a genius in the use of the Internet as a business, marketing and profit making opportunity. Ahead of his time. He taught me a lot. Justin, my youngest son became Justin Bergh, one of South Africa’ s best ever rock stars. Justin has spend much time in New York, showcasing his songs and he has spent months on end in LA and London writing and performing with the best.

Suddenly, one night standing out side having a cigarette,I felt a sudden breeze in my eyes. I had the urge to revisit my lifelong music passion, which had been fueled by Justin’s successes and my uncle who died at 21, a brilliant violinist. An idea for a Musical came to me in the blink of an eye, I saw it all, the whole story in detail immediately.

In three weeks I wrote a 2 hour full theatre musical, called Sixties Revisited, which has been presented to London West End Theatre. I then started on page one of the Bible, and am in the process of completing 5 Bible Musicals for a world wide television series. I was writing songs so fast that in the mornings I could not remember my own chords from the day before! Some 70 songs later so far." 

The Most Reverend Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Emeritus, Nobel Prize winner and awesomely respected throughout the world has given me a letter of introduction to whomever I wish.

Then, out of the blue, I decided to try my obvious gifts of creativity at painting. I bought a canvas some paints, read about the brilliant Vincent Van Gogh and was totally hooked and inspired. I completed 43 canvasses in 4 weeks, after never ever having painted in my life before. These are the oils you will see in my gallery.

"Sound check before show"