Lovers At First Sight

In 2010 a YouTube video of a ten-year-old boy, singing “These Arms” by All For One, appeared on the internet. Hundreds of thousands of people viewed the video with predictions that this is the next Michael Jackson. Rumor had it that the boy, known only as Vicus, was from the Eastern Cape. And so began an extensive search with international record executives heading to South Africa in pursuit of this extraordinary boy…but Vicus couldn’t be found. In January 2011, A&R directors of Sony LA and Def Jam NY approached Gareth Cliff (top Breakfast show host and judge on South African Idols) to assist. After an on-air mention, Facebook update and Tweet from Gareth, a fellow radio announcer in Bloemfontein contacted him. And so Vicus Visser was found – now seventeen years old and living in Heidedal, Bloemfontein. A story in the Daily Sun two days later, referring to the ‘Bieber of Bloem’, caused a media frenzy. Record executives and media converged on Bloemfontein with numerous promises of fame & fortune. Rina Broomberg, Gareth’s manager and business partner in One on One Productions (Pty) Ltd, went to meet with Vicus and his family. At seventeen Vicus still exhibited the same star quality that he had when he was ten. In addition to singing, he also writes songs and plays three instruments. Vicus is a South African story of hope, change and possibility, from living in poverty in an area known for crime, drugs and alcohol abuse. Owing to him having a disrupted childhood, with mother managing to escape an abusive marital relationship when Vicus was nine, he fell behind in his schooling. Education is extremely important to him and he is determined to complete his Matric and encourage other young people to study and better their lives. He is very bright and wise beyond his years. Being from a very religious family, Vicus has also become known as a gifted young preacher – the pulpit has been his stage from an early age. He is now ready for the World’s stage.