John Edmond

Infobox musical artist
Name = John Edmond


Img_capt = John Edmond "the Bushcat" from his album "Troopiesongs"
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Background = solo_singer
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Born = birth date and age|1936|11|18
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Origin = Luanshya, Northern Rhodesia
Instrument =
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Genre = Folk music, rock
Occupation = Guitarist, drummer
Years_active = 1956–present
Label = Roan Antelope Music
Associated_acts =
URL = http://www.johnedmond.co.za/
Current_members =
Past_members =
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John Edmond (born 18 November 1936 in Luanshya, Northern Rhodesia) is a Rhodesian folk singer who became popular in the 1970s for his Rhodesian patriotic songs. He reached the height of his fame during the Rhodesian Bush War. He was sometimes called the "Bush Cat". During his childhood, he and his parents moved between Scotland and Central Africa. He went to school in Luanshya, Northern Rhodesia, Edinburgh, Scotland, and in South Africa at Christian Brothers College in Pretoria. He displayed a natural talent for music at an early age when he was given a mouth organ as a birthday gift from his grandmother at age three. John mastered the instrument within half an hour. As a boy scout, he played the bugle and was in the local scout bugle band. While at school in Edinburgh, he was chosen to sing in the famous St John's boys choir. He was regularly featured in lead roles at Christian Brothers College in Gilbert and Sullivan operettas. John was lead drummer in the college's pipe band. He went on to win the South African Junior drumming championships at the Royal Scottish gathering at Wembley in 1953. After college, John was employed at the Roan Antelope copper mine.

After some time there, in November 1956 he joined the (Southern) Rhodesian Army in Bulawayo. He was in the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Rhodesia Regiment. [ [http://www.rhodiemusic.com/solos.htm Rhodesian Music Website - Solo Artists ] ] While in the military, he served in the Congo, Nyasaland (now Malawi) and Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). During this time, he bought a guitar at a trading store. While in the army, he met Bill Coleman. These two learned to play the guitar together. John soon joined his army pals, Eugene van der Watt and Ian Kerr in, to form the Bushcats Skiffle Group, in 1958. The group was a huge success among its peers and progressed into cabaret and rock 'n' roll. [ [http://www.johnedmond.co.za/biography.html#John Bibliography of John Edmond ] ] After his military service was up, John went to England to study computers. He later moved to South Africa in the mid-1960s. John became famous in Rhodesia during the Bush War with his album "Troopiesongs". [ [http://www.johnedmond.co.za/secureshop.html John Edmond Official Website] ] He was also a composer, writing such hits as "The UDI Song". After the war, and Zimbabwean Independence, he continued to record albums such as "Zimsongs" and "Zimtrax".

Since 1987, John and his wife Theresa have owned and maintained a resort in South Africa named "Kunkuru". The resort is located in the Johannesburg area. [http://www.kunkuru.co.za/] John also has his own record label, Roan Antelope Music (RAM).

Discography

References

ee also

*Clem Tholet

Persondata
NAME=Edmond, John
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Bush Cat
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Folk singer
DATE OF BIRTH=18 November 1936
PLACE OF BIRTH=Luanshya, Northern Rhodesia
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=