Francois Van Coke
Francois Van Coke, a prominent South African singer-songwriter, gained fame as the frontman of the rock bands Fokofpolisiekar and Van Coke Kartel. He launched his solo career on April 8, 2015, with his self-titled debut album, featuring the hit single "Toe Vind Ek Jou" in collaboration with Karen Zoid. This groundbreaking track became the first Afrikaans album and single to simultaneously reach number one on the South African iTunes Store, achieving over 20,000 downloads and earning Platinum status. The accompanying music video amassed over a million views within six months, making it the biggest Afrikaans music video of 2015.
In 2017, Van Coke released his second album, *Hierdie is die Lewe*, followed by the collab EP *Francois van Coke en Vriende* in 2018, featuring artists like Die Heuwels Fantasties, Early B, Laudo Liebenberg, and Jack Parow. That same year, he premiered his TV show, *Die Van Coke Show*, and in October 2019, he launched his third solo album, *Dagdrome in Suburbia*. He is also a proud father to his daughter, Alex, who is 6–7 years old, and an infant son.
From a young age, Van Coke showed a passion for music. Growing up in Bellville, Western Cape, he participated in a high school battle of the bands competition, where he performed vocals for his band. However, after being kicked out, he stepped back from singing for a while. His strong Christian upbringing—his father being a pastor—initially led him to form the Christian band AS180. He later made a name for himself in the Bellville underground music scene with the band "A Guy Called Gerald," which eventually became "New World Inside."
Van Coke co-founded Fokofpolisiekar as a way to challenge the conservative Afrikaans community. He recalls the shock the band’s name caused, noting that his mother cried for days after hearing it. Following early performances, his father requested he change his surname from "Badenhorst" to "Van Coke" due to complaints from local churchgoers about his performances.
Today, Francois Van Coke stands as a symbol of innovation and authenticity in the South African music scene.
Reference:
Wikipedia
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