Don Clarke (songwriter)

Don Clarke
Also known asThe Songteller
BornJohannesburg, South Africa
GenresWorld music, South African afro-pop, rock, folk
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, composer, musician, producer
InstrumentGuitar
LabelsMonkeyshine Music

Don Clarke (born 1955 in Johannesburg) is a South African singer-songwriter, also known as The Songteller.[1] Clarke is notable for his music contribution to South African culture with songs that celebrate South African sport (Kick It Up), tell the story of heroes[2] and support social issues (Zuma Must Fall).[3]

His large music contribution to the South African film industry, including most of the Leon Schuster's films.[4]

One of his early songwriting credits, Sanbonani, was a national hit record for P J Powers in 1986.[citation needed] The Long Walk is Over, an ode to Nelson Mandela (co-written with Kalla Bremer) won the Grand Prize in the Great American Song Contest in 2013,[5] now part of the memorial collection held at the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory Repository.[6]

Promoting conservation in South Africa. Don is known for his sometimes controversial views on issues like poaching, hunting and politics. His music has been used by non-profits and in projects by John Varty, the conservationist.

Convening the Legends stage at South Africa's longest-running annual music festival, Splashy Fen.

Biography

Early life

Born in Johannesburg in 1955, Don Clarke grew up in Westville, South Africa, outside Durban in Kwa-Zulu Natal. He learnt to play the guitar and wrote song lyrics from childhood. He started high school at Hilton College in 1969, but completed his education at Westville Boys' High School. On leaving school, he earned income writing adverting jingles.

Personal life

Don set up a music studio in Westville in 1979, and befriended a teenage Roy Ndlovu who ran errands. Roy died under strange circumstances in 1981. The song, Slowboats[7] documents the story, with information provided by the artist.

He married business partner Denise Britz, dance choreographer known for the floorshow cabarets and supper club theatre[8] at Durban's Ruby Tuesday, Millionaire's and The Wild Coast Sun. Don Clarke contributed original, often humorous songs to her risque dance[9] routines. One, Jingle Bells[10]- is seasonal uptake which has been updated over the years.

Don Clarke married Wendy Stacey in August, 2010.[11] The couple live in Howick, in the KZN Midlands of South Africa. Wendy is a founding member of the Drakondale Girls' Choir School.[12] The choir feature regularly in Don Clarke's recent music,[13] notably on Till You're Free Again[14], the song written for the 2018 Leon Schuster film, Frank and Fearless.[15] The film and the song both draw attention to the illegal trade in rhino horn.

Interests and projects

Don Clarke writes, records and produces music from his home studio in Howick. He is a conservationist,[16] columnist for the Drakonteur,[17] and supports local music. He and Dicky Roberts have convened the Legends of the Fen stage at Splashy Fen (South Africa's longest running music festival) since 2016. The initiative has seen South African legends like Steve Fataar,[18] Brian Finch[19] and PJ Powers[20] return to the festival over recent years.[21] He has recently finished writing his first book, Once Upon a Crutchmullet[22].He produces music through his studio, Monkeyshine Music, and is making a name for himself as a painter.[23]

Activism

Conservation

Don Clarke is public about his anti-hunting stance. He has a Facebook page called The Trophy Room[24] and added his Mission Statement to his video channel under the song, Voortrekker Weep,[25] dedicated to John Varty, South Africa's best known conservationist and wildlife film maker.[26] The song protests the 2019 shooting of an iconic elephant in Namibia.[27] John Varty credited Don Clarke with the music to his song, The Messiah[28] - Greta Thunberg. It is performed by Don Clarke and Ru Nyathi and supports the controversial[29] activist. The Clarke catalogue includes many songs that protest ecological issues, including You're Not Alone, another Varty dedication, and Roaring.[30] In 2018, a rhino charity used Till You're Free Again without charge for promotional purposes.[31]

Politics

Sanbonani[32] was an anti-apartheid reconciliation song in 1986. Clarke has continuously spoken out publicly against corruption and inefficiency in the government through his column, vlogs and songs. EFF support for land expropriation[33] triggered an Open Letter to Julius Malema,[33] Clarke responded to the government lockdown measures with a series of Vlogs expressing his complaints[34] and songs like Zuma Must Fall[35] went viral after it was adopted by marching protesters. Mr Ramaphoza[36] asks the new president not to "sell a lie for votes."

Social

South Africa is a multi-cultural society. Don Clarke works with local talent whenever collaboration is required and has written lyrics in multiple languages, like those written for Afrikaans singers like Laurika Rauch,[37] Danie Niehaus,[38] Leon Schuster[39] and Rosie Doring.[10] He recorded My Vok Maralise as his Afrikaans speaking alter ego, Donny the Dutchman. 1999, Don Clarke and Kala Bremer wrote the words and music for Die Nostalgie[40], a popular song (in Afrikaans) recorded by Laurika Rauch on her cd 19 Treffers in 21 Jaar. In 2015, a group of musicians from Durban united to record Dig a Little Deeper[41], a song about tackling xenophobia. The Long Walk is Over[5] features Thembiso Sithole, Wendy Ndlovu Calvin Sthembiso & the Guns & Moses Choir, Underberg Primary School Choir, Rosa de Castro Doran, Callie Barrow, Derrik Swanepoel and Wendy Clarke. His recent song, A Virus and a Flower features jBoy, another local singer.[42]

Much of his catalogue concerns social issues, like his latest release, A Sad, Sad Song[43] which is about the recent Covid-19 lockdown.

Songwriting

In 1986, Don Clarke's song "Sanbonani", performed by PJ Powers, won SABC[44][circular reference]'s National Song Festival.[32][45] He has produced a large body of work since[46] then, and continues to write for artists, films[47] and productions. He produces music and continues to perform.

Adult Art - The Band Years

Adult Art,[48] was formed in 1990, with Ronnie McNamara, Shaun Herbert, Wayne Rathbone and Dave Atkinson. It was mainly a studio band, founded to record and promote the songs Don Clarke had written. Several of the band's songs appeared on the soundtrack for the 1991 Leon Schuster movie Sweet 'n Short.[49] The band released three albums in the 1990s.[14] including Acoustic Flush[50] on the BMG Africa label in 1992. Adult Art disbanded in 1997, and reformed in 2010 under a new name, Crutchmullets[48]

Works

In Films

Track information below the table

Year Film Title Track Credit
1989 Oh Schucks ... It's Schuster! Music[51] Don Clarke
1990 Kwagga Strikes Back Theme Don Clarke[52]
1991 Sweet 'n Short[39] Soundtrack Various Clarke/Bremer Performed by Adult Art
2004 *Oh Schucks!...I'm Gatvol Music[53] Clarke See * for tracklist and credits
2006 **Op Dun Eish![54][55] Various See ** for tracklist and credits
2008 Mr Bones 2 - Back from the Past[56] Various See *** for tracklist and credits
2010 Schuks Tshabalala's Survival Guide to South Africa[57] Various Crutch Mullets[58]
2013 Schuks! Your Country Needs You Music Supervisor Don Clarke[59]
2015 Schuks! Pay Back the Money Film Music Credit Don Clarke[60]
2018 Frank and Fearless Till You're Free Again[15] Don Clarke[61]/Drakondale Girls' Choir

*Oh Schucks! I'm Gatvol Tracks and Credits : (lyrics: "Going Home", "Sanbonani", "Gatvol") / (music: "Going Home", "Sanbonani", "Naastin Theme", "Bakgatland", "Rambo Nation", "Gatvol", "Oh Schucks we wanna go Home", "Dig a Little Deeper", "I don't want to sit next to Manto") / (performer: "Going Home", "Sanbonani", "Naastin Theme", "Bakgatland", "Rambo Nation")[47]

**Op Dun Eish Tracks and Credits : Hie Kommie Cheetahs (Don Clarke / Leon Schuster), Bielie Van 'n Mielie (Don Clarke / Leon Schuster/Mike Valentine), Steek Hom Innie Pad (Don Clarke / Leon Schuster/Mike Valentine), Dis Lekka by die A N See (Don Clarke / Leon Schuster/Mike Valentine), Eish Pt. 2 (Don Clarke / Leon Schuster), Hamba Polisiekar (Don Clarke / Leon Schuster), Vat Jou Goed en Rap (Don Clarke / Leon Schuster/Mike Valentine), Druk Jou Tswane In Jou Polokwane (Don Clarke / Leon Schuster/Mike Valentine), Kortbroek Kaskenades, Kortbroek Kaskenades (Don Clarke / Leon Schuster/Mike Valentine), Waars Daai Manne Nou (Don Clarke / Leon Schuster)[47]

***Mr Bones 2 - Back from the Past Tracks and Credits : (lyrics: "Bombay Hunter - Main Theme", "Bombay Hunter - Helluva Man", "Bombay Hunter - Kwaito Version", "Chilli Man", "Mr Bones Love Song", "Rock 11") / (music: "Bombay Hunter - Main Theme", "Bombay Hunter - Helluva Man", "Bombay Hunter - Kwaito Version", "Rock 11") / (performer: "Bombay Hunter - Main Theme", "Bombay Hunter - Helluva Man", "Bombay Hunter - Kwaito Version", "Chilli Man", "Mr Bones Love Song", "Rock 11")[47]

Non-Film Work

Track information below the table

Year Title Performed by Composer / Artist Album
1981 Slowboats[7] Don Clarke Don Clarke Single (digital)
1986 Sanbonani[32] P J Powers and Hotline Don Clarke Single
1994 Sanbonani P J Powers and Hotline[62] Don Clarke The Best of P J Powers and Hotline
1999 Die Nostalgie Laurika Rauch Don Clarke/Kalla Bremer 19 Treffers in 21 Jaar[37]
2005 Grys Gebiede Danie Niehaus Don Clarke Grys Gebiede[38]
2010 Kick It Up Crutch Mullets Don Clarke Soccer Safari[63]
2010 Various (see* below) Crutch Mullets Don Clarke Soccer Safari[64]
2010 You're Not Alone[65] Don Clarke Don Clarke Digital
2011 Kick it Up[66] Leon Schuster Clarke/Schuster Bok Tjoppie (Op! Op! Op!)[67]
2015 Roaring Don Clarke Don Clarke Digital[68]
2016 Zuma Must Fall[35] Don Clarke Don Clarke and Special Care Digital
2016 Die Nostalgie Laurika Rauch Clarke/Bremer Die Troubadour -Bring Hulde Aan[69]
2017 Long Dark Journey[70] Don Clarke Don Clarke Digital
2017 Tell the World[71] Don Clarke Don Clarke Digital
2017 Land of Nelson[72] Don Clarke Don Clarke Digital
2017 White Man Crying[73] Don Clarke Don Clarke Digital
2017 Jingle Bells Revisited[10] Rosie Doring Don Clarke Digital
2018 One More Day[74] Don Clarke Don Clarke Digital
2018 The Best Way Back[75] Don Clarke ft Dicky Roberts Don Clarke Digital
2018 Zuma Has Fallen[76] Don Clarke ft Special Care[77] Don Clarke Digital
2018 Mr Ramaphoza[36] Don Clarke Don Clarke Digital
2019 The Messiah[78] Don Clarke and Ru Nyathi Lyrics Varty, music Clarke Digital
2019 Hey, Bokke![79] Leon Schuster with Drakondale Girls' & Michaelhouse Schuster / Clarke Digital / Monkeyshine Music[80]
2019 Voortrekker Weep[25] Don Clarke Don Clarke Digital
2019 Do You Ever Cry?[81] Don Clarke Don Clarke Single
2020 Virus and a Flower Don Clarke and jBoy Don Clarke Lockdown Blues[42]
2020 A Sad, Sad Song[82] Don Clarke Don Clarke Digital

2010 Soccer Safari Album Information

Written by Don Clarke, performed by Crutchmullets unless otherwise stated

Tracklist: Kick it Up, Hey-Na Africa, Run for Cover, Khuthela Bo! (ft Leon Schuster), Vuvuzela Mamba (ft Alf "Shorty" Ntombela), Gig a Little Deeper, Siyabonga, Nkosi Sikilele Vuvuzela, Webabo, F For Woodwork (ft Alf "Shorty" Ntombela), Sinamandla, Keeper, Khuthala Bo! (Afrohouse Remix), We're All In Pain.[64]

Selected songwriting credits and awards

Year Song Notes
1986 Sanbonani National Song for South Africa Competition winner[32]
1999 Sanbonani USA Songwriter Competition (honourable mention)[83]
2008 Hey-Na Splashy Fen Song Winner[84]
2010 Kick it Up! SABC FIFA World Cup 2010 Bafana song competition[85]
2013 Long Walk is Over[86] Great American Song Contest Grand Prize winner (with Kalla Bremer)
2016 Blame it on the Whites Song went viral[87]
2018 'Till You're Free Again[88][14] Great American Song Contest 1st Place, Category Special - Anti Poaching
2020 Zuma Must Fall[89] Written with Special Care/Thembiso Sithole- Viral election song[3]

References

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Further reading

Leon Schuster

Frank and Fearless

Laurika Rauch

Gray Hofmeyr