LIZE BEEKMAN - BIOGRAPHY
Lize Beekman announced,
at the age of 3, that she will one day write her own songs. At
the age of 12 her first song, ‘Like an Eagle’, was
recorded by a well-known South African artist, Clive Bruce, as the title
track of his then new album. During her high school years she
walked away with the first prize in 2 national songwriting competitions
(Crescendo – ATKV / Sterre 2000 – RSG) for 2 consecutive years.
Ever since Lize is one of South Africa’s most acclaimed songwriters.
Her songs have been recorded by a wide range of performers: Laurika
Rauch, Amanda Strydom, Matthys Roets, Theuns Jordaan, Elzabé Zietsman,
Anke (idol) and Coenie de Villiers amongst others. Beekman’s
song “’n Sonneblom uit Bethlehem”, was nominated as
Song of the Year during the GMT Awards in 2002.
In 1997 Lize recorded
her debut CD, “Eyes of a Child”, consisting of music
and lyrics written and composed by Beekman herself, in both Afrikaans
and English. The response from the local music industry, media
and public was positive and overwhelming and the album was nominated
for a SAMA Award (South African Music Awards) in the category
Best Adult Contemporary Album – English. One of the tracks,
“Lord, it’s Raining”, was used for the national Red Nose
Day Campaign held by MNET. She was also a SAMA winner,
alongside Amanda Strydom, in the category Best Musical Soundtrack
for the soundtrack of “‘n Vuur gevang in Glas”,
which they co-wrote.
Her second album,
“Cake” followed in 2000, again with new material in both
languages and also including the theme song of a TV series
‘Soutmansland’ which she composed and performed.
Beekman released her
third CD, Iemand Het Gesê, in 2003. The album consists of 12
tracks – all Beekman originals – and this CD was 100% Afrikaans.
After the release of this album Lize’s audience grew extensively and
she was a finalist in the 2004 SAMA’s in the Category Best Adult
Contemporary Album – Afrikaans.
In 2004 Beekman
wrote and produced the stage production “tussenINbetween”
in which she performed with Gloria Bosman. They had audiences
on their feet countrywide and they were also nominated for a KANNA
Award at the KKNK2004 in the Category for Best Musical Performance.
At the end of 2004
Lize also launched her Fundraising Project ALL THE
SAME with REVLON SA being her corporate partner. This project
consists of a song she wrote, “All the Same”, which
she recorded with her friend Vusi Mahlasela. All the proceeds
of the CD single, as well as all royalties earned by the song, goes
towards a fund that looks after AIDS orphans and patients of the St.
Francis Care Centre in Boksburg. To date the project has raised
approximately R400 000.
Early 2005 Beekman
entered 5 songs into the ISC (International Songwriting Competition).
Out of 11000 entries worldwide, all 5 her songs were shortlisted, 4
(one of them an Afrikaans song) made it to the semi-final and 1 made
the finals. She was invited to showcase her music at a Music Festival
abroad, but sadly could not go due to prior commitments locally. At
the KKNK 2005 Lize also walked away with the KANNA Award
for Best Performance in Contemporary Music.
November 2005
Lize released her fourth album, DRAADKAR OOR DIE SEE. The
title track made the top20 Charts of various radio stations and again
this album was a finalist for a SAMA Award in 2006 in the category
Best Adult Contemporary album: Afrikaans.
In September 2007
Lize released a CD consisting of lullabies only – Lize Beekman
Lullabies. The album was sponsored by Baba & Kleuter and Baby
City. The promotion was supported by 7de Laan (SABC 2) giving
Lize a 3-episode storyline. The CD consists of lullabies in Afrikaans,
English, Xhosa and Instrumental - all written and composed by Beekman.
Lize is donating all artists’ profits to the Red Cross Children’s
Hospital. The CD was also nominated for a SAMA Award in 2008.
To date Lize has donated well over R200 000 to the Red Cross Children’s
Hospital, and in April 2009 the hospital grants Lize the honour of becoming
a Guardian of the Red Cross Children’s Hospital.
In September 2007 Lize
recorded her new solo-album Sit
‘n Bietjie Langs My, which was released in May 2008. In
2009 this album is nominated for a SAMA Award in the category Best
Adult Contemporary Album: Afrikaans, together with Amanda Strydom,
Valiant Swart, Chris Chameleon and Coenie de Villiers.
In
2008 the ATKV of Pretoria-East
honours Lize with a Special Recognition Award for her contribution to
Afrikaans Music.
In November
2008, she performed for the first
time ever in London, UK at Aardvark. She was the first South African
artist to receive a standing ovation.
Lize currently lives
in Melkbosstrand in Cape Town, South Africa.
AWARDS / NOMINATIONS
1. Finalist for SAMA Award in 1998 for her debut album ‘EYES OF A CHILD’ - Best Adult Contemporary Album English
2. Finalist and winner for SAMA Award in 1998 together with Amanda Strydom, for “Vuur Gevang in Glas” - Best Soundtrack for Musical Theatre
3. Finalist in GMT Awards in 2002 - Song of the Year: ‘’n Sonneblom uit Bethlehem’
4. Finalist in VITA Awards in 2002 – Best Musical Performance
5. Finalist in 2 categories for the GMT Awards in 2003 for her third album ‘IEMAND HET GESê’ – Best Solo Artist and Best Songwriter
6. On People’s Choice Top 10 for her show “IEMAND HET GESê” at AARDKLOP Arts Festival in 2003
7. On Critics Choice Top 10 for her music in the cabaret “OëNSKYNLIK”.
8. Finalist for SAMA Award 2004 for her album “IEMAND HET GESê” - Best Afrikaans Album
9. KANNA Nomination at KKNK2004 for ‘tussenINbetween’ (together with Gloria Bosman, Juan Oosthuizen en Schalk Joubert) - Best Musical Performance
10. One of 11 finalists in ISC (International Songwriting Competition) in Januarie 2005 – Best Country Song
11. Nr 1 on TOP 40 of UCT Radio Charts in January 2005 with her song All the Same
12. Winner of KANNA Award at KKNK 2005 with her show “’n Bietjie Nader”, in the category Best Performance in Contemporary Music.
13. Her song “Draadkar oor die See” for 8 weeks on the OFM top 20 in 2006.
14. Her song “Draadkar oor die See” on the IFM top 20 in 2006.
15. Album “Draadkar oor die See” nominated for SAMA Award 2006 in the Category for Best Adult Contemporary Album: Afrikaans.
16. Rated under top 10 of Krit’s Choice at KKNK 2006 for her show “Draadkar oor die See”.
17. Nominated in 3 categories for the HUISGENOOT TEMPO Toekennings in 2006: Favourite Female Artist, Favourite Contemporary Artist, Favourite Contemporary Album (Draadkar oor die See).
18. Winner of the SONG OF THE YEAR Category at the Vonk Awards 2006, with her song “Draadkar oor die See”
19. Rated under top 10 of Krit’s Choice at KKNK 2007 for her show “Lize Beekman-10”
20. Lize Beekman Lullabies is nominated for a SAMA Award (Best Kiddies Album: Afrikaans) in 2008.
21. Finalist in HUISGENOOT TEMPO Toekennings 2008: Favourite Female Aritist.
22. Lize receives a Special Recognition Award from the ATKV Pretoria-East in 2008 for her special contribution to Afrikaans Music.
23. Her CD “Sit ‘n Bietjie Langs My” is nominated in 2009 for a SAMA Award in the category Best Adult Contemporary Album: Afrikaans.
Profile coded by Brian Currin
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