Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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CLEGG, Johnny

(b Jonathan Paul Clegg, 7 June 1953, Bacup, Lancashire, UK; d 17 July 2019, Johannesberg SA, of pancreatic cancer) Singer, songwriter, guitarist; also played umhuphe mouth bow, etc; co-leader/leader of 'township jive' bands in South Africa. He spent his early years in Zimbabwe, settled in SA at age six, began to learn Zulu guitar at 14 and also learned the language; he became a lecturer in anthropology at the U of Witwatersrand. At 16 he met Sipho Mchunu, whose background could not have been more different: Sipho was born in Natal where his family had been forcibly resettled, spent his childhood as a goatherd, learned to play on a homemade guitar, became a migrant worker and a street musician in Jo'burg. They played together in clubs, at parties, singing in Zulu and English, transcending cultural and racial barriers. Their first single was 'Woza Friday' '76, and they formed Juluka (means 'sweat', referring to the kinds of work which most people in SA have to do). He soon gave up academia for music.

Juluka's first LP was Universal Men; the hit 'Africa Kukhala Ambangcwele' made them stars, no. 1 before being banned. Best-selling LPs included African Litany '81, Ubuhle Bemvelo '82; Scatterlings of Africa on Safari UK, WB USA reached the top 200 USA LPs '83 with folk-rock beat, Zulu harmonies, heart-rending lyrics: 'Digging for words (beneath the stones of Zimbabwe)' is a beautiful song. Stand Your Ground was also released in the USA. Juluka struggled as an integrated band against officialdom and single-issue fanatics (touring North America and Europe '82-3 they were at first banned by the UK musicians' union. Go figure.) The band broke up in 1985 and Siphu gave up full-time music to work on his father's farm; there was a compilation '96 on Putumayo.

Clegg formed Savuka (means 'we have awakened'). Third World Child '87 by Johnny Clegg and Savuka on EMI was a harder blend of Mbaqanga/township jive with international rock, all songs written or co-written by Clegg including a remake of 'Scatterlings Of Africa', 'Asimnonanga' (Nelson Mandela tribute, banned in SA). Percussionist Dudu Zulu and drummer Derek DeBeer had also been members of Juluka; the band also included Steve Mabuso on keyboards, Jabu Mabuso on bass, Keith Hutchinson on keyboards and saxophone; in the live act (touring Europe '87) Clegg and Dudu demonstrate Zulu dancing as well. Clegg's producer was Hilton Rosenthal, who helped set up the African sessions for Paul Simon's Graceland. More Savuka albums were Shadow Man '88, Cruel, Crazy, Beautiful World '90, Heat Dust and Dreams '93. Clegg released In My African Dream '94 on Safari.

Clegg continued touring, remaining a passionate and joyful representative of African culture, acquiring the French equivalent of a knighthood, honorary degrees and an OBE (Order of the British Empire). His cancer was diagnosed in 2015, but in remission, he embarked on The Final Journey World Tour in 2016, and was writing his autobiography.