Personality, April 24, 1969, By Fred Forge

Springs-born cabaret star Zona Visser is back from a long tour of the Far East during which she entertained American Forces in Vietnam – often with her life in danger.

When Zona Visser became a professional singer some five years ago she hoped that big things would happen to her in the world of show business and that she would be able to travel. Both these hopes have been amply fulfilled. Born in Springs 26 years ago, Zona was educated at Springs Convent. She played tennis, hockey and netball at school but it was classical music that occupied most of her time outside the classroom.
She became a competent pianist but after leaving school she decided to switch to singing. Zona worked at Jan Smuts Airport as a private secretary for two years and was often in conversation with people from other parts of the world. Watching the giant planes come and go stimulated Zona’s desire to travel. She began singing three nights a week with a dance band, reasoning that if she worked hard at entertaining it could prove her passport to other countries.
“Things warmed up and eventually I turned professional when I was offered a position with Jimmy Rayson’s group at His Majesty’s Cellar In Johannesburg,” related Zona. “I was delighted. It meant giving up my day job at the airport but I would be gaining much needed singing experience with a good group.
“After a year I branched out on my own as a cabaret singer. When I think back I feel quite ashamed because I must have been pretty mediocre in those days. Still I have always felt that a negative approach is of no use in show business.
“I spent a lot of time rehearsing and my endeavors must have paid off because the next thing I knew I had been booked for a cabaret tour of the main centres of South Africa. My act was well received and I felt on top of the world but there was still an urge to do even better.
“The chance soon came. When Carmen Cavallaro visited South Africa to play in the large cities I was selected as one of the supporting acts. Then I did a further tour of South Africa with Eve Boswell and Nico Carstens.
“Nat Berlin, the London agent who managed Marlene Dietrich on her South African tour, heard me singing while he was out here and offered to arrange contracts for me overseas. I seized the opportunity and went over to London.
“That was more than three and a half years ago. I was pleased to make an encouraging debut in England and I did not have as much as a week off until I returned to South Africa for a much needed break at the end of 1968.”
In England, Zona appeared on the same bill as Frank Ifield, the famous Australian singer, as well as several other big name performers. Her work permit however did not allow her to sing in England for longer than three months at a stretch. But the industrious Miss Visser was never idle.
There were always engagements waiting for her on the Continent and she appeared in Germany, Holland, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Greece and in other countries. Zona worked for 20 months in England and on the Continent before deciding she would like a change.
A contract for her to appear in Australia was signed and there she sang for eight months, appearing on television as well as in clubs and hotels.
“There are some magnificent clubs in Australia and the people are very entertainment conscious,” explained Zona. “There are six television channels in Sydney alone. This serves to underline how terribly South Africa trails in the competitive world of show business.
“I went to New Zealand after Australia and on to New Caledonia and Tahiti, and then back to Australia to prepare for my Far East trip.
“It started quietly in Japan. The next stop was Okinawa, the large American air base, where I entertained the troops for a month. Here I saw the giant eight-engined bombers that made regular sorties against the Vietcong.
“Formosa, Hong Kong, Bangkok and Singapore were just a few of the places where I sang and while I was appearing in Bangkok my agent in the Far East went on to Saigon to complete arrangements for a three-week tour. On the trip he died of a heart attack and I arrived in Saigon with my musical director, Peter Crawford, to find we were on our own.
“We soon found out that there was a lot of money to be made entertaining the forces and we decided to stay in Saigon for a while. We linked up with Johnny Bell, a 300 lb. Singer in the Burl Ives mould, who had a small part in the film, The Dirty Dozen.
“Bookings came in thick and fast and our stay in Vietnam extended to nine long and often hair-raising months. We played entirely to American servicemen during this time.
“There were many occasions when our lives were in danger and for a spell I was terrified and longed to get out of the country. But there was no turning back because there were no external flights. I just had to make the best of things – as all the other folk did.”
Zona witnessed the suicide attack on Saigon’s American Embassy in January 1968. It was carried out by 19 Communist commandos all of whom were killed.
“They hid in a flower truck which drove into the city from the country,” she related. “American Rocket-firing helicopters aided them in the attack which I watched from half a mile away.
“Saigon, which had been quiet when I first arrived, erupted into violence with mortar shells and rockets flying about on all sides.
“On one occasion twenty minutes after I had left the house where I was staying it was blown sky-high by a Communist rocket.
“Sometimes we were unable to land on an airstrip to do a show because of the presence of Vietcong in the area. At other times there were incidents such as the plane’s wheels failing to open for a landing. Luckily we never had to make a forced landing anywhere.
“You gradually learn to live with these things and adopt the attitude that if it’s your turn to die there is not much you can do about it. Hunger was one of our biggest problems.
“It should not be imagined that my entire nine months in Vietnam was one long spell of death and destruction. There were many lighter moments and times when we ate and lived well. And while we were there we were excellently paid by American Servicemen’s clubs for our concerts.”
Zona hopes to make an extensive tour of South Africa and Rhodesia while she is back home. South Africans will be surprised at the professional acumen of the Springs-born songstress.
Zona, who has been appearing at the plush Beverly Hills Copacabana Club near Durban, plans to release a record during her stay in South Africa something she has not done since she left.
Her most popular numbers, all of which are put across with heart-warming feeling are Believe Me, Yesterday, Such a Lot of Living To Do and I’m a Woman.
Zona’s big ambition is to perform in the United States.
“I am booked for further appearances in the Far East towards the end of the year,” she concluded. “I am hoping that these can be extended to the United States. Meanwhile it’s lovely to be back in South Africa.”