Clem Tholet
Clem Tholet | |
---|---|
Clem Tholet | |
Background information | |
Born | 1948 Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia (now Harare, Zimbabwe) |
Died | 6 October 2004(2004-10-06) (aged 56) Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa |
Genres | Folk, rock and roll |
Instrument | Guitar |
Years active | 1966–2004 |
Labels | RND Records |
Website | Official website |
Clem Tholet (1948 – 6 October 2004) was a Rhodesian folk singer who became popular in the 1970s for his Rhodesian patriotic songs.[1] He reached the height of his fame during the Rhodesian Bush War.
Biography
Clem Tholet was born in Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia in 1948, and began writing songs while he was an art student in Durban, South Africa. One of his first songs, Vagabond Gun was a category winner at the South Africa Music Festival in 1966. Tholet later moved back to Rhodesia to work in advertising. He started singing at Rhodesia's first folk venue, The Troubadour in Salisbury's Angwa Street. Whilst performing there, he met Sue Eccles and Andy Dillon. The trio formed a group called The Kinfolk, then moved to South Africa, and shortly after moving to Johannesburg, Eccles left the group.
Tholet and Dillon formed a new group with Yvonne Raff, which they called The Legend Trio. This new trio began singing at the original Southern African "Troubadour", and were also involved in a number of SAFMA's National Folk Fests.
Tholet married Jean Smith (step-daughter of Rhodesian Prime Minister Ian Smith) in 1967.
Tholet embarked on a solo career, recording some singles with Art Heatlie at Trutone. Mel Miller, Peter Leroy and Sylvia Stott briefly joined Tholet to form a group in 1970, before Tholet moved back to Rhodesia in 1971. Tholet returned and soon built up a strong following. He did a series of Rhodesian Television shows, and presented a radio programme called Folk on the Rocks, aired for two series. The name came from the folk club Tholet ran at The Beverley Rocks, where it played to regular packed houses.
A popular star of the annual Bless 'Em All Troop Shows, and in great demand in the Rhodesian entertainment scene, Tholet recorded his first album Songs of Love & War at Shed Studios. Tholet wrote and produced the album himself. The album was awarded a Gold Disc. He wrote the soundtrack and songs for the C.I.S. film What A Time it Was and the theme song for a film honouring the wounded troopies of Rhodesia, Tsanga, Tsanga.
He appeared at the 7 Arts Theatre, Harare in the first half, supporting the American comedian Shelley Berman with members of the Shed Studios band – consisting of Martin Norris, Steve Roskilly, Bothwell Nyamhondera, Tony Logan and Steve Hughes. As artistic director of the advertising agency Matthewman Banks and Tholet, he was instrumental in writing a great many and memorable music jingles for his clients. He produced a second album at Shed Studios, called Two Sides to Every Story, before moving back to South Africa. After living and working in the advertising industry for many years in Cape Town, Tholet died on 6 October 2004 after having suffered from the effects of a debilitating illness for a number of years.[2][3]
Tholet's last album, Archives was (and is) sold as a fundraiser to benefit the Flame Lily Foundation. This fundraising project seeks to provide funds for the living expenses of elderly former residents of Zimbabwe and Rhodesia living in South Africa, who have been denied their pensions by the Zimbabwean government.[4]
Discography
Albums
Album | Year | Label | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Songs of Love & War | 1979 | Teal | Gold Disc Award |
Two Sides to Every Story | 1978 | Teal | |
Archives | 2004 | RND | Sold as a fundraiser for Rhodesian pensioners |
Singles
Singles | Year | Label | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Vagabond Gun | 1966 | RCA Victor | Category winner South Africa Music Festival |
The Cold Side | 1968 | Renown | |
Mirror of My Mind | 1968 | Renown | |
With Pen in Hand | 1968 | Renown | |
True Love is a Tear | 1968 | Renown | |
Vrystaat | 1969 | Renown | |
Rhodesians Never Die | 1973 | Blackberry | |
Hey, Hey Jerome | 1973 | Blackberry | |
Peace Dream | 1977 | Teal | |
The Last Farewell | 1978 | Teal | |
Song for Johnny | 1978 | Teal | |
What a Time it Was | 1978 | Teal | |
Zambesi, Zimbabwe | 1980 | Stanyan | |
Sunny Days and Rain | 1980 | Stanyan | |
Used Car Dealer | 1980 | Stanyan | |
Somebody Else's Song | 1981 | Stanyan |
Film tracks
Film Tracks | Year | Label | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
What a Time it Was | |||
What a Time it Was | |||
Golden Days | |||
With His Hands | |||
Peace Dream | |||
If the World Had Another Hitler | |||
Tsanga, Tsanga |
See also
References
- ^ Kriel, Margaret. "Farewell Clem Tholet". Morning Mirror. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
- ^ Rhodesian Music Website – Solo Artists Archived 16 November 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Clem Tholet's biography Archived 14 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Rhodie Oldies need your help Archived 3 November 2007 at the Wayback Machine
Further reading
- "Clem Tholet RIP". 3rd Ear Music. Archived from the original on 18 May 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2013. Includes Clem Tholet's self-penned obituary "Goodbye".
- v
- t
- e
- Prime Minister of Rhodesia (1964–79)
- Leader of the Rhodesian Front and successors (1964–87)
- Leader of the Opposition of Zimbabwe (1980–87)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6c/Ian_Smith_1975.jpg/120px-Ian_Smith_1975.jpg)
- 1964 independence referendum
- Rhodesian mission in Lisbon
- Unilateral Declaration of Independence (signatories)
- Harry letters affair
- Beira Patrol
- 1969 constitutional referendum
- Rhodesian Bush War
- 1975 Victoria Falls Conference
- 1976 Geneva Conference
- Internal Settlement
- Air Rhodesia Flight 825
- 1979 constitutional referendum
- Air Rhodesia Flight 827
- The Great Betrayal: The Memoirs of Ian Douglas Smith (1997)
- Alec Smith (son)
- Janet Smith (wife)
- Clem Tholet (son-in-law)
Category