- Clem Tholet
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Clem Tholet 
Album cover depicting likeness of Clem TholetBackground information Born 1948 Origin Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia Died October 6, 2004 Genres Folk, rock and roll Instruments 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. He reached the height of his fame during the Rhodesian Bush War.
Clem 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 in the South Africa Music Festival in 1966. Clem 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. While performing there, he met Sue Eccles and Andy Dillon. The three formed a trio called The Kinfolk. The group moved to South Africa, and shortly after moving to Johannesburg, Sue left the group.
Clem and Andy 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.
Clem married Jean Smith (daughter of Rhodesian prime minister Ian Smith) in 1967.
Clem began a solo career, recording some singles with Art Heatlie at Trutone. Mel Miller, Peter Leroy and Sylvia Stott briefly joined Clem to form a group in 1970, before Clem moved back to Rhodesia in 1971. Clem moved back and soon built up a strong following. He did a series of Rhodesian Television shows, and presented a radio program called Folk on the Rocks, which was on the air for two seasons. The name came from the folk club Clem 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, Clem recorded his first album Songs of Love & War at Shed Studios. Clem 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 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. 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, Clem died on 6 October 2004 after having suffered from the effects of a debilitating illness for a number of years.[1][2]
Clem's last album, Archives was (and is) sold as a fund raiser to benefit the Flame Lily Foundation. This fund raising project seeks to provide funds for the living expenses of elderly former residents of Rhodesia / Zimbabwe living in South Africa, who have been denied their pensions by the Zimbabwe government.[3]
Contents
Discography
Albums
Album Year Label Notes Songs of Love & War 1979 Teal Gold Disc Award Two Sides to Every Story 197? Teal Archives 2004 RND Sold as fund raiser for Rhodesian Pensioners Singles
Singles Year Label Notes Vagabond Gun 1966 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 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 What a Time it Was Golden Days With His Hands Peace Dream If the World Had Another Hitler Tsanga, Tsanga See also
- John Edmond
- Mark Green "Story of Rhodesia - Tribute to Clem Tholet"; Hrungnir Records, CD (2009)
References
Categories:- 1948 births
- 2004 deaths
- Anglo-African people
- People from Harare
- Rhodesian people
- South African composers
- South African folk musicians
- South African guitarists
- South African male singers
- South African musicians
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