Sissy (Erika) McGurk. Photo supplied
TOURING overseas has become an annual event for Oudtshoorn’s well known vocalist Sissy (Erika) McGurk. In 2015 she was invited to the UK and Canada, in 2016 to five European countries and last year, 2017, she toured three of the southern states of the USA – Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama before finishing off in Washington DC.
This month and August Sissy will be in the UK for two weeks before heading off for a circular tour of Denver, Colorado, Salt Lake City, Utah and Las Vegas, Nevada before returning home via the UK in early September.
Prior to being lead singer with the Oudtshoorn production Magic Moments for 5 years (which won the Lilizela National Tourism Award for the best cultural and lifetime experience for tourists in the country in 2016) Sissy spent several decades as leader of the Independent Church Choir in Bridgton.
Her husband and keyboard player, Dr Barry McGurk, explained: “Over the period that we presented Magic Moments, an intimate dinner show in our home, some 5 000 tourists came to see us and experienced Sissy’s voice, a traditional potjiekos and South African hospitality. They arrived as complete strangers from all over the world, but many left as friends who on returning home kept in contact and invited us to perform at events to showcase Sissy in their home town.”
Sissy continued: “There have been so many memorable events in different countries. At large shows in concert halls in the UK and Germany, for example, the hosts organised South African themes with local performers wearing African clothes, playing African Drums and performing South African songs with me. Stages were decorated with huge South African flags.
“At a couple of the shows in large hotels they even made potjiekos for 100’s of people in enormous pots. We didn’t think theirs were anywhere near as tasty as ours, but the locals didn’t know what to expect and loved the food!”
This is her sixth trip to the UK.
“While I enjoy performing in the UK, going to the USA for a second time is really exciting. It’s the home of so much music.
“Last year I sang with a fantastic black gospel choir in Atlanta and at the home of country music in Nashville. In Memphis on one street, Beale Street, there are 20 music venues with live jazz, rock, country and gospel music all day. Singing there was a great experience. So I’m looking forward very much to flying the South African flag in new places and seeing old friends again.
“The bonus is we get to be tourists too. I’m looking forward to hearing the legendry Mormon Tabernacle Choir in Salt Lake City, Utah. Certainly a visit to the Grand Canyon, and of course being in Las Vegas!”