Staff Writer
AFTER more than 40 years, singer and songwriter Albert Hammond, OBE, is ready to visit the city he says “he fell so deeply in love with”.
English-born Hammond will be performing next month in Cape Town, a stop on his Albert Hammond Songbook world tour, which began in Britain in May.
“It’s been a long time since I visited South Africa. I have definitely missed it and I am expecting to have a lot of fun,” he said.
He will perform at the Grand Arena, GrandWest, on October 11.
He said he would be performing his chart hits It Never Rains in Southern California, Free Electric Band, I’m a Train and Peacemaker.
“My song list includes songs from the sixties, seventies, eighties and nineties, and some of my latest material. I will take audiences as far back as 50 years ago. It is important that I ignite special memories in people and tell stories.”
With the birth of his son, Albert Louis Hammond jr, in 1980, Hammond took a break from making music and touring.
He began planning his world tour three years ago.
“I have fond memories of hiking Table Mountain and digging my feet into the white sand of Clifton beach. I just didn’t go into the water – it was far too cold.
“I absolutely fell so deep in love with Cape Town.”
In 1987, he collaborated with Diane Warren on Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now, for which he was nominated for an Oscar, Golden Globe and Grammy.
He has also co-written a number of successful chart-toppers, including One Moment in Time, which was performed by Whitney Houston, To All The Girls I’ve Loved Before, a 1984 hit for Julio Iglesias and Willie Nelson, and When You Tell Me That You Love Me by Diana Ross.
He has sold more than 350 million records as a songwriter, Hammond says.
“All my songs are my children. I love them all equally, even those that did not make it that big.”
On June 19, 2008, he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
On October 9, Hammond will perform at the Clover Aardklop festival in Potchefstroom and on October 12 at Carnival City.
“I know Capetonians are hospitable people and I look forward not only to performing there, but also meeting new people and shaking hands.”
Tickets for his Cape Town concert are on sale at Computicket and range from R110 to R250.