Don Clarke (songwriter)

Don Clarke
Also known asThe Songteller
BornJohannesburg, South Africa
GenresWorld music, South African afro-pop, rock, folk
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, composer, musician, producer
InstrumentGuitar
LabelsMonkeyshine Music

Don Clarke (born 1955 in Johannesburg) is a South African singer-songwriter, also known as The Songteller.[1] 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[2] and support social issues (Zuma Must Fall).[3]

His large music contribution to the South African film industry, including most of the Leon Schuster's films.[4]

One of his early songwriting credits, Sanbonani, was a national hit record for P J Powers in 1986.[citation needed] 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,[5] now part of the memorial collection held at the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory Repository.[6]

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.

  1. ^ eMinor. "DON CLARKE - The Song Teller (OFFICIAL) | Singer Songwriter from Howick, ZN, ZA". ReverbNation. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  2. ^ "Madiba song by SA duo wins US contest". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference :16 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "Oh, schuks! It's Don and Leon again". Retrieved 23 August 2020 – via PressReader.
  5. ^ Suter, Billy (31 March 2014). "Madiba song by SA duo wins US contest". The Mercury. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  6. ^ "Item 0380 - CD 'The Long Walk is Over' , written by Don Clarke & Kalla Bremer and performed by Don Clarke, Calvin Sthembiso & the Guns & Moses Choir". nelsonmandela.org. ZA COM MR-T-7-4-0380. Retrieved 29 June 2020.