Tributes are pouring in for well-known veteran entertainer, Alvon Collison who died on Saturday at the age of about 78.
In theatre circles he was known as the ‘King of Cabaret’, who became a household name in the 1970s.
Alvon was born in Woodstock, Cape Town. During the 1950s he moved to Salisbury (now Harare) with his family, where he eventually started singing professionally.
He moved to Johannesburg when he was recruited by the legendary Joan Brickhill and Louis Burke for one of their extravaganzas.
One of Collison’s award-winning performances included his role as Pharaoh in the musical stage production, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
Collison’s long-time friend and fellow artist, Alistair Izobell, has fond memories of the entertainer.
“An absolute lover of life and absolute lover of his fellow human beings and it was just a joy not only to work with him it was a joy to be his friend and to experience this special spirited person the many laughs and visits with him and the many lessons over the years. This special special human being that leaves a legacy forever and a footprint of smiles and a wonderful wonderful wonderful memory of someone that we all should aspire to be like.”
He was the entertainer on board the MTS Oceanos when it sank off the Wild Coast. He played a huge part in the evacuation of passengers when the captain got off the ship first.