Bobby Angel

Bobby Angel was born on 30 December 1936 in Johannesburg, South Africa, as Robert Engelsman. His grandfather came to South Africa from The Netherlands to seek his fortune on the diamond fields in Barkly West in the Northern Cape. At the age of 6 months, Bobby’s parents moved to Kimberley where his father worked as a diamond cutter. Bobby started singing at the age of 3 and was also a very proficient amateur boxer in his younger days, winning 13 trophies over a period of 7 years. He started playing drums and singing with his own band while still in his teens, and in later years also sang at weddings and other functions as well as with the bands of Hymie Baleson and Dan Hill at the Orange Grove Hotel in Johannesburg.

After completing his National Service in the Army, he completed a 5-year apprenticeship as a diamond cutter, while singing in nightclubs in and around Johannesburg by night. Dan Hill suggested that he change his name to “Bobby Angel”, with “Robert” becoming “Bobby” and the “Engel” of “Engelsman” becoming “Angel”. His first album, “Rockin', Swingin' and Twistin’ Bobby Angel”, was in the jazz and swing genre (like Frank Sinatra) and was released in 1962. However, he only achieved commercial success after he changed to the country genre which is much more popular in South Africa.
At the beginning of his career, he issued four singles :
* Shut The Door / Stop The Music [Gallotone - PD 7-8725 - 1963]
* Sweet Dream Baby / This Little Girl [Gallotone - PD 7-8832 - 1964]
* Can I Trust You / Save A Heart From Heartbreak [PYE - PY 127 - 1966]
* Funny Familiar Forgotten Feelings / Treat Her Right [PYE - PY 155 - 1967]
In 1974 the Teal Record Company offered him a contract to record several country songs, and he had his first big hit with “You Ask Me To” that made him a household name in the country. In total he had 6 South African Top 20 hits as a solo artist, as well as 2 in duet with Barbara Ray:

Bobby Angel:
1. You ask me to – 1975, #1, 17 weeks
2. Before the next teardrop falls – 1975, #5, 11 weeks
3. Don Junior – 1975, #16, 3 weeks
4. It's a burning thing – 1976, #15, 9 weeks
5. Green eyed angel – 1976, #5, 15 weeks
6. Kelly's song – 1977, #13, 7 weeks

Bobby Angel & Barbara Ray:
7. The greatest Christmas gift – 1975, #19, 2 weeks
8. Voices – 1983, #17, 12 weeks

In 1976 Bobby and Barbara Ray won a Sarie Award as Best Vocal Group, and from 1978 onward Bobby regularly appeared on television in programmes such as Pop Shop, Good Vibrations and Country Celebration. He also won a Sarie Award in that year for Best Male Vocalist. From 1979 he presented the programme Gentle On My Mind on television, also hosting international stars such as Glen Campbell. After a break he again presented the programme from 1983 to 1985.

In 2016, at the age of 80, Bobby announced his retirement from show business. He lives in Johannesburg.