Don Clarke (songwriter)

Born in Johannesburg in 1955, Don Clarke grew up in Westville, outside Durban in Kwa-Zulu Natal. He learnt to play the guitar and wrote song lyrics from childhood. He started high school at Hilton College in 1969, but completed his education at Westville Boys' High. On leaving school, he earned income writing adverting jingles.

Don set up a music studio in Westville in 1979, and befriended a teenage Roy Ndlovu who ran errands. Roy died under strange circumstances in 1981. The song, Slowboats[7] documents the story, with information provided by the artist.

He married business partner Denise Britz, dance choreographer known for the floorshow cabarets and supper club theatre[8] at Durban's Ruby Tuesday, Millionaire's and The Wild Coast Sun. Don Clarke contributed original, often humorous songs to her risque dance[9] routines. One, Jingle Bells[10]- is seasonal uptake which has been updated over the years.

Don Clarke married Wendy Stacey in August, 2010.[11] The couple live in Howick, in the KZN Midlands of South Africa. Wendy is a founding member of the Drakondale Girls' Choir School.[12] The choir feature regularly in Don Clarke's recent music,[13] notably on Till You're Free Again[14], the song written for the 2018 Leon Schuster film, Frank and Fearless.[15] The film and the song both draw attention to the illegal trade in rhino horn.

Don Clarke writes, records and produces music from his home studio in Howick. He is a conservationist,[16] columnist for the Drakonteur,[17] and supports local music. He and Dicky Roberts have convened the Legends of the Fen stage at Splashy Fen (South Africa's longest running music festival) since 2016. The initiative has seen South African legends like Steve Fataar,[18] Brian Finch[19] and PJ Powers[20] return to the festival over recent years.[21] He has recently finished writing his first book, Once Upon a Crutchmullet[22].He produces music through his studio, Monkeyshine Music, and is making a name for himself as a painter.[23]

Don Clarke is public about his anti-hunting stance. He has a Facebook page called The Trophy Room[24] and added his Mission Statement to his video channel under the song, Voortrekker Weep,[25] dedicated to John Varty, South Africa's best known conservationist and wildlife film maker.[26] The song protests the 2019 shooting of an iconic elephant in Namibia.[27] John Varty credited Don Clarke with the music to his song, The Messiah[28] - Greta Thunberg. It's performed by Don Clarke and Ru Nyathi and supports the controversial[29] activist. The Clarke catalogue includes many songs that protest ecological issues, including You're Not Alone, another Varty dedication, and Roaring.[30] In 2018, a rhino charity used Till You're Free Again without charge for promotional purposes.[31]

Sanbonani[32] was an anti-apartheid reconciliation song in 1986. Clarke has continuously spoken out publicly against corruption and inefficiency in the government through his column, vlogs and songs. EFF support for land expropriation[33] triggered an Open Letter to Julius Malema,[33] Clarke responded to the government lockdown measures with a series of Vlogs expressing his complaints[34] and songs like Zuma Must Fall[35] went viral after it was adopted by marching protesters. Mr Ramaphoza[36] asks the new president not to "sell a lie for votes."

South Africa is a multi-cultural society. Don Clarke works with local talent whenever collaboration is required and has written lyrics in multiple languages, like those written for Afrikaans singers like Laurika Rauch,[37] Danie Niehaus,[38] Leon Schuster[39] and Rosie Doring.[10] He recorded My Vok Maralise as his Afrikaans speaking alter ego, Donny the Dutchman. 1999, Don Clarke and Kala Bremer wrote the words and music for Die Nostalgie[40], a popular song (in Afrikaans) recorded by Laurika Rauch on her cd 19 Treffers in 21 Jaar. In 2015, a group of musicians from Durban united to record Dig a Little Deeper[41], a song about tackling xenophobia. The Long Walk is Over[5] features Thembiso Sithole, Wendy Ndlovu Calvin Sthembiso & the Guns & Moses Choir, Underberg Primary School Choir, Rosa de Castro Doran, Callie Barrow, Derrik Swanepoel and Wendy Clarke. His recent song, A Virus and a Flower features jBoy, another local singer.[42]

Much of his catalogue concerns social issues, like his latest release, A Sad, Sad Song[43] which is about the recent Covid-19 lockdown.

*Oh Schucks! I'm Gatvol Tracks and Credits : (lyrics: "Going Home", "Sanbonani", "Gatvol") / (music: "Going Home", "Sanbonani", "Naastin Theme", "Bakgatland", "Rambo Nation", "Gatvol", "Oh Schucks we wanna go Home", "Dig a Little Deeper", "I don't want to sit next to Manto") / (performer: "Going Home", "Sanbonani", "Naastin Theme", "Bakgatland", "Rambo Nation")[47]

**Op Dun Eish Tracks and Credits : Hie Kommie Cheetahs (Don Clarke / Leon Schuster), Bielie Van 'n Mielie (Don Clarke / Leon Schuster/Mike Valentine), Steek Hom Innie Pad (Don Clarke / Leon Schuster/Mike Valentine), Dis Lekka by die A N See (Don Clarke / Leon Schuster/Mike Valentine), Eish Pt. 2 (Don Clarke / Leon Schuster), Hamba Polisiekar (Don Clarke / Leon Schuster), Vat Jou Goed en Rap (Don Clarke / Leon Schuster/Mike Valentine), Druk Jou Tswane In Jou Polokwane (Don Clarke / Leon Schuster/Mike Valentine), Kortbroek Kaskenades, Kortbroek Kaskenades (Don Clarke / Leon Schuster/Mike Valentine), Waars Daai Manne Nou (Don Clarke / Leon Schuster)[47]

***Mr Bones 2 - Back from the Past Tracks and Credits : (lyrics: "Bombay Hunter - Main Theme", "Bombay Hunter - Helluva Man", "Bombay Hunter - Kwaito Version", "Chilli Man", "Mr Bones Love Song", "Rock 11") / (music: "Bombay Hunter - Main Theme", "Bombay Hunter - Helluva Man", "Bombay Hunter - Kwaito Version", "Rock 11") / (performer: "Bombay Hunter - Main Theme", "Bombay Hunter - Helluva Man", "Bombay Hunter - Kwaito Version", "Chilli Man", "Mr Bones Love Song", "Rock 11")[47]

Written by Don Clarke, performed by Crutchmullets unless otherwise stated

Tracklist: Kick it Up, Hey-Na Africa, Run for Cover, Khuthela Bo! (ft Leon Schuster), Vuvuzela Mamba (ft Alf "Shorty" Ntombela), Gig a Little Deeper, Siyabonga, Nkosi Sikilele Vuvuzela, Webabo, F For Woodwork (ft Alf "Shorty" Ntombela), Sinamandla, Keeper, Khuthala Bo! (Afrohouse Remix), We're All In Pain.[64]