Johnny Clegg

Jonathan "Johnny" Clegg (7 June 1953 – 16 July 2019) was a British-born musician from South Africa. He was in the bands Juluka and Savuka.

Johnny Clegg
Background information
Birth nameJonathan Clegg
Also known asJohnny Clegg
Le Zoulou Blanc
Born(1953-06-07)7 June 1953
Bacup, Lancashire, England
Died16 July 2019(2019-07-16) (aged 66)
Johannesburg, South Africa
GenresMbaqanga, Afro-pop
InstrumentsVocals, guitar, concertina
Years active1980–2017
LabelsCapitol Records
Past member(s)Sipho Mchunu (Juluka), Dudu Mntowaziwayo Ndlovu (Savuka)
Websitejohnnyclegg.com

Career

Juluka were able to tour in Europe. They had two platinum and five gold albums. They were an international success. The Savuka album Shadow Man sold 250,000 copies within a week after its release. It sold more than 1,000,000 copies in France alone.[1]

His song "Scatterlings of Africa" was on the soundtrack to the 1988 Oscar winning movie Rain Man. This song is his only entry in the UK Singles Chart to date. It reached #75 in May 1987.[2] He also did music for the movie The Lion King 1½, George of the Jungle and Opportunity Knocks.

Death

Clegg was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2015.[3] He retired in 2017. Clegg died on 16 July 2019 at his home in Johannesburg from the disease at the age of 66.[4]

Recognition
  • Clegg was awarded the Chevalier des Arts et Lettres (Knight of Arts and Letters) by the French Government in 1991.
  • In 2004, he was voted 23rd in the SABC3's Great South Africans.
  • In 2007, Clegg received an honorary doctorate in music from the University of the Witwatersrand.[5]
  • In 2011, Clegg received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from City University of New York School of Law.[6]
  • In 2012, Clegg received the South African Presidential Ikhamanga award as part of the National Orders ceremony. This award is the highest honor a citizen can receive in South Africa. It was presented by President Jacob Zuma.[7]
  • In 2012, Clegg received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Dartmouth College[8]

References
  1. "Biography". Archived from the original on 2009-02-28. Retrieved 2012-09-13.
  2. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 110. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  3. "South Africa's Johnny Clegg, with cancer in remission, to embark the Final Journey U.S. tour". Los Angeles Times. 2017-08-16. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2017-11-14.
  4. "Remembering a legend: 9 of Johnny Clegg's biggest hits". Channel. 16 July 2019. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  5. "MEET JOHNNY CLEGG, INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED MUSICIAN AND WITS ALUMNUS". Archived from the original on 2008-06-01. Retrieved 2012-09-13.
  6. "Human Rights Activist, Jonathan "Johnny" Clegg Recieves Honorary Degree – CUNY School of Law". www1.cuny.edu.
  7. "National orders to be awarded". m.news24.com.
  8. "Dartmouth Commencement 2012 - Johnny Clegg, Doctor of Humane Letters". www.dartmouth.edu.
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