[2] In school concerts he displayed a knack for making people laugh but he did not see comedy as a viable career, so after he matriculated he qualified as a plumber.
In 1947 everything changed after his friends dared him to participate in a countrywide talent competition, associated with the South African Industries Fair, which he won.
In 1969 he produced the film Stadig oor die klippe (Slowly across the rocks), while playing the lead role of Boetie Flenters (a bungling private eye who – à la the Pink Panther – somehow still managed to get the bad guys).
[3] In 1968 Al had a runaway success with his rendition of Hasie, a song composed by Nico Carstens and Anton de Waal.
In 1996 he issued his second-last album (or his last with new material), called Ek lewe nog (I'm still alive).