"Sorry. I am what I am." The Life and Letters of the South African Pianist and Opera Coach Gordon Jephtas (1943- 92) - Paperbackby Hilde Roos (Editor), F? roll Jon Davids (Editor), Chris Walton (Editor) Gordon Jephtas (1943 92) was born into an impoverished, coloured, single parent family in South Africa. He began piano lessons after being intrigued by the harmonium player at the local church. In his teens he worked as an accompanist with the amateur coloured opera group "Eoan" in Cape Town, then moved to Europe to further his studies. His first big break came in 1972 when the