Laurika Rauch

  1865 views

Laurika Rauch, (born 1 November 1950 in Cape Town) is a South African singer who performs in both Afrikaans and English. She had a hit single in 1979 with Kinders van die Wind (Children of the Wind), written by Koos du Plessis. The song featured prominently in the Afrikaans television series "Phoenix & Kie" in the late seventies.

Laurika has had the opportunity to sing with several South African Symphony orchestras and in Europe she has performed with the well-known Metropole orchestra. She has performed overseas on numerous occasions in, amongst other places, Prague, London, Belgium, The Netherlands, Frankfurt, New Zealand and Australia.

She has notched up 25 solo CD’s of which many have achieved gold status or double platinum status. Her most recent CD is Gunstelinge, which includes the new version of Kyk hoe glinster die maan.

Some of her most recent awards include a Ghoema award with Loki Rothman for ‘Ringtone of the year’ for Blou, a Ghoema award for Die Reis (both in 2017), and a 2017 Bokkie lifetime achievement award, from Bok radio.

Laurika can be seen regularly on television in musical productions and videos of her songs. Several documentaries have been made of her and her work.

Some of her personal highlights are: Productions directed by Deon Opperman and Ilse van Hemert, Ons kruis paaie with Stef Bos, David Kramer, Taliep Petersen, Ray Phiri and others; Samekoms/Kopano with Vusi Mahlasela; a 2010 performance at the opening of parliament, held at the Cape Town Stadium; singing Stuur groete aan Mannetjies Roux at Loftus before a crowd of 60,000 people; Hart en See with Elvis Blue; more recently the production Blou with Loki Rothman, Afrikaans is Groot and many more.

Laurika is married to Christopher Torr, writer and composer of many of her greatest hits, such as Stuur Groete aan Mannetjies Roux, Op Blouberg se Strand, Kyk hoe glinster die maan, Hot gates, Die Gang, Die mense op die bus, My ou Tante Koba and Stille waters. In 2011 Chris’s musical, Stuur groete aan Mannetjies Roux, was performed in four main centres to more than 50 standing ovations and sold out shows. Chris and Laurika have two children, Simon and Nina and a first grandchild!