Religion and the church played a huge role in Don Vino Prins’ upbringing and heritage.
The popular saxophonist says his roots are firmly grounded in the teachings of Christianity, and growing up in Elsies River, his mom impressed the importance of kerk lewe.
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“My heritage starts at home with my Pinkster mother’s cultural upbringing,” says the 38-year-old.
“She taught me and my sister to always respect the church.
“In fact, the church forms part of our culture; I used to date my now wife, Ronelle Prins, for three years without kissing her.
“And every date we went on had to have a church leader join us for supervision,” he says with a smile.
He and Ronelle, 34, are now married 13 years and still going strong, he adds.
Don Vino joined the Christmas Choir and church band when he was a teen and such were his amazing talents that he became the choir master at 19.
Growing older, his musical tastes branched out to jazz, but when he decided to follow a career in secular music, his kerkmense did not accept it at first.
“The church wasn’t happy with this idea, but they supported me in the end,” says Don Vino.
Being raised by two strong women - his young mother and his ouma - Don Vino says there wasn’t much room to be naughty.
“We were raised to respect the elderly at all costs, we couldn’t backchat or give lip when we were scolded. My granny would sand-knyp us (she’d rub sand between her fingers and then pinch them).”
The father of three says he now tries to instil these same values in his children, and loves telling them stories about his childhood.
“But they aren’t agreeing to the three years of dating without kissing,” he laughs.
Don Vino is still involved with his church’s Christmas Choir and says: “The choir is part of my success. It was the foundation of music for me and I will never forget where it all started.”
The muso released his first solo album in August, called All The Way, which is now available at music stores.