Peaches & Herb: a flood of childhood memories

By Maurisha Niewenhuis

If it happened today, most children would be embarrassed and run to the next room. But in the 70s and 80s, kids grew accustomed to our parents randomly, without warning, dancing in the house. And my house was no different. We would sit as a family and my dad, William, would put his coffee cup aside, get up, grab my mom, Pauline and dance when a song of Peaches & Herb came on.

When William was not home, Pauline would grab a broom and dance in the kitchen.

For the millennials reading this, Peaches & Herb was one of the most popular musical duo’s of the 70s and 80s, with hits like “Reunited”, “Close Your Eyes” and “Remember” topping the charts in those days. Herb Fame has a distinctive, mellow voice and has spent his long career picking Peaches and making great records. Over the years, we have seen seven Peaches.

So, imagine waking up one morning and realising I would interview Peaches & Herb that day. The duo is in SA for their national tour. No amount of coffee could calm my nerves. I dressed up. I even borrowed heels from my colleague, Jackie. And off I went.

I walk into the Prive Lounge at Grandwest in Cape Town. There they were: Peaches, looking dazzling, makeup on point. Next to her, Herb is in casual gear after a workout in the gym. Yes, at 81 years old, and he still keeping fit. Hugs and pleasantries were exchanged, and then we went right into it.

He felt humbled when I told him how my parents danced to their music. And I had to hold back the tears telling them how, when William and Pauline died, I had found healing in their songs. But we were here to talk about them.

What do your fans not know about you? I asked Herb. “I hope they know I love women… and my music was made for making babies.” And all I can think about it, we were seven children! Anyway, moving on.

Herb’s humble yet inspiring music journey started at a young age in the church and later led him to explore other musical avenues. Young Herb worked at a record store in Washington D.C., dreaming of his big break, which changed one day when he made a bold move and did an impromptu audition at the time when Van McCoy walked into the store. The rest, as they say, is history. Herb went from being a backup singer to a main act on tour with Peaches.

Peaches & Herb has existed (with breaks) for over five decades; but all has not been smooth sailing. Challenges have presented themselves, but as Herb and Wanda confidently agreed, overcoming them would not have been possible without strong family support and faith.

As our interview comes to an end, Herb shared some wisdom for aspiring artists: “Never stop believing in yourself. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t. Always be prepared for opportunities.”

I had to know what draws them to our beautiful city every time. Herb and Wanda just smiled and said Cape Town feels like home with its warm embrace and loving atmosphere. Herb joked that as soon as they leave, he asks when they can return. I suggested they could not leave Cape Town without experiencing our famous Gatsby. “I will try and add it to our to-do list,” he said.

Meeting Peaches & Herb was more than just an interview; it was a magical moment I’ll cherish forever. IB

Did you know?

Their hit song “Reunited” was a massive success, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1979. It became one of those songs that defined romance during its time, and it’s still a classic choice for weddings and romantic occasions today. IB