Don Clarke (born 1955 in Johannesburg) is a South African singer-songwriter, also known as The Songteller. 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 and support social issues (Zuma Must Fall).
His large music contribution to the South African film industry, including most of the Leon Schuster's films.
One of his early songwriting credits, ''Sanbonani,'' was a national hit record for P J Powers in 1986. ''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,
now part of the memorial collection held at the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory Repository.
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.
Bio
Early life
Born in Johannesburg in 1955, Don Clarke grew up in Westville, 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. 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''
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 at Durban's Ruby Tuesday, Millionaire's and The Wild Coast Sun. Don Clarke contributed original, often humorous songs to her risque dance routines. One, ''Jingle Bells''
- is seasonal uptake which has been updated over the years.
Don Clarke married Wendy Stacey in August, 2010. The couple live in Howick, in the KZN Midlands of South Africa. Wendy is a founding member of the Drakondale Girls' Choir School. The choir feature regularly in Don Clarke's recent music, notably on ''Till You're Free Again''
'','' the song written for the 2018 Leon Schuster film, ''Frank and Fearless''.
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, columnist for the Drakonteur, and supports local music. He an
Dicky Robertshave convened the ''Legends of the Fen'' stage a
Splashy Fen(South Africa's longest running music festival) since 2016. The initiative has seen South African legends like Steve Fataar, Brian Finch and PJ Powers return to the festival over recent years. He has recently finished writing his first book, ''Once Upon a Crutchmullet'.''He produces music through his studio, Monkeyshine Music, and is making a name for himself as a painter.
Activism
Conservation
Don Clarke is public about his anti-hunting stance. He has a Facebook page called The Trophy Room and added his Mission Statement to his video channel under the song, ''Voortrekker'' ''Weep,''
dedicated to John Varty, South Africa's best known conservationist and wildlife film maker. The song protests the 2019 shooting of an iconic elephant in Namibia. John Varty credited Don Clarke with the music to his song, ''The'' ''Messiah'' ''-
Greta Thunberg
Greta Tintin Eleonora Ernman Thunberg (; born 3 January 2003) is a Swedish environmental activist who is known for challenging world leaders to take immediate action for climate change mitigation.
Thunberg's activism began when she persuaded ...
.'' It's performed by Don Clarke and Ru Nyathi and supports the controversial activist. The Clarke catalogue includes many songs that protest ecological issues, including ''You're Not Alone'', another Varty dedication, and ''Roaring''. In 2018, a rhino charity used ''Till You're Free Again'' without charge for promotional purposes.
Politics
''Sanbonani''
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
triggered an Open Letter to Julius Malema,
Clarke responded to the government lockdown measures with a series of Vlogs expressing his complaints and songs like ''Zuma Must Fall''
went viral after it was adopted by marching protesters. ''Mr Ramaphoza''
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,
Danie Niehaus,
Leon Schuster
and Rosie Doring.
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','' 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','' a song about tackling xenophobia. ''The Long Walk is Over''
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.
Much of his catalogue concerns social issues, like his latest release, ''A Sad, Sad Song'' which is about the recent Covid-19 lockdown.
Songwriting
In 1986, Don Clarke's song "Sanbonani", performed by
PJ Powers
PJ Powers (born 16 July 1960, Durban) is a South African singer and performer. She became a household name in southern Africa after the widespread success of the song “Jabulani”. When she played at the Jabulani Amphitheatre in 1983 she was h ...
, won SABC's National Song Festival.
He has produced a large body of work since then, and continues to write for artists, films
and productions. He produces music and continues to perform.
Adult Art - The Band Years
Adult Art,
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
''Sweet 'n Short'' is a 1991 in film, 1991 Leon Schuster movie made in South Africa. It was directed by Gray Hofmeyr.
Plot
In South Africa, Sweet Coetzee wins an award for 20 years service as a sportscaster on his 40th birthday, beating his ...
''. The band released three albums in the 1990s.
including ''Acoustic Flush''
Acoustic Flush, BMG Africa (Pty) Ltd 1992 - L4 CRS (N) 215
/ref> on the BMG Africa label in 1992. Adult Art disbanded in 1997, and reformed in 2010 under a new name, ''Crutchmullets''
Works
In Films
Track information below the table
''*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")
Non-Film Work
Track information below the table
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.
Selected songwriting credits and awards
References
External links
Official siteOfficial Video
Further reading
Leon Schuster
Leon Ernest "Schuks" Schuster (born 21 May 1951) is a South African filmmaker, comedian, actor, prankster and singer.
Early life
Schuster was drawn to the filmmaking process at an early age. As a child he and his brother would play practical ...
Frank and Fearless
''Frank and Fearless'' is a 2018 South African buddy comedy adventure film written and directed by Gray Hofmeyr and co-written by Leon Schuster, who also stars in the movie. The film featured local actors, and used music performed by the Drakon ...
Laurika Rauch
Laurika Rauch, (born 1 November 1950 in Cape Town) is a South African singer who performs in both Afrikaans and English. She had a hit single in 1979 with ''Kinders van die Wind'' (''Children of the Wind''), written by Koos du Plessis. The s ...
Gray Hofmeyr
Gray Hofmeyr (born 6 February 1949 in Cape Town, South Africa) is a South African film and television director.
In a career that spans almost three decades, Hofmeyr's films have touched many themes and genres.
Biography
Gray Hofmeyr is cons ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Clark, Don
South African singer-songwriters
20th-century South African male singers
1955 births
Living people
21st-century South African male singers
Alumni of Hilton College (South Africa)