Conrad Carrell

Conrad Carrell (born Conrad Schalk Venter, October 9, 1940 - May 20, 2010) was an American vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, born in South Africa, who became best known as a founding member of the band Starshine.

Early life and career
Venter was born and raised in, the son of Daniel Venter and Rebecca Van Jaarsveld. He studied music at the, and performed in jazz clubs in Pretoria, and.

Strongly opposed to the apartheid system in his native, Venter moved to the in 1961. Taking up residence in the area, he began to write and perform commercial jingles under the pseudonym of Conrad Carrell. In 1967, he met guitarist Adam Gellner while working at the in. Together, they formed a rock group, Starshine, and they signed a record deal with in 1971.

In 1978, Carrell left Starshine along with rhythm guitarist Val Olszak. They were replaced by Nathan Witte and Bryan James Feasey of Witte & Feasey. He rejoined in 1983, but left again in 1989. Starshine reformed with Carrell, Gellner, Eddie Hargrove, Joshua Donovan and founding member Bryan Promes in 1996, but Carrell left again in 2001.

In 2005, Carrell re-joined Starshine a fourth time at the invitation of Gellner. Carrell continued performing with Starshine from then onwards.

On May 20, 2010, Carrell collapsed backstage following a Starshine concert in. He was rushed to, where he was pronounced dead on arrival from cardiac arrest. Carrell was replaced by Frankie Gilchrist from 2011-2015 and then by Grant Marris.