The ‘Rhodesian Singers’ idea came to me after reading a book my sister wrote about her experiences in that country. She had it printed and sent me a copy which I received last week. Thanks Val. Her book “Sun Shining Down” by Diana Valerie Clark, is available on ebook at Amazon.co.uk at 3.31 pounds each. It is also available in America at amazon.com for $5.00.

1. Alan Garrity – Put your hand

This was a big hit for him in South Africa. I used to sing this song a lot too, after hearing him sing it. I was shocked to read that he was in the same school as me – Milton High in Bulawayo. I guess that he is one of the most famous Rhodesian singers.

2. Jody Wayne – Patches

I was listening to this song on the radio yesterday, and the one announcer said it was banned on some radio stations years ago. This is the song I always associate with Jody. I heard him once in South Africa. This Rhodesian singer was very famous in South Africa.

3. Alain D. Woolf – When love has passed you by

I never actually heard him sing before, but I bought a lot of his musical equipment from his mother in the suburb of Kumalo after he had left the country.

4. Memories – Peter Maxwell

Here are a lot of pictures that will bring back memories of Rhodesia. Peter plays the piano and talks.

5. John Edmond – Rhodies Everywhere

Here is a funny kind of song. I saw John singing once at the Rand Show in Johannesburg. We had an LP record of The Greenstones singing his songs: “Did you ever see a kudu cry little boy, did you ever see a kudu cry?”

6. Wrex Tarr – A Terrrorist’s lament

This was a big hit for him. Unfortunately things got very bad in that country. I think Ian Smith made a big mistake in declaring UDI. When I see what happened in Lybia, I realize that you can’t fight the world and win. Wrex was one of the most famous comedians in Rhodesia, but he was also a singer, and this song was on the hit parade.

7. Cold Shoulder

When I left Bulawayo, the Frost brothers formed their own group called The Cold Shoulder. They are now in Australia.

8. Paul Bernstein – The Stereos

Paul was a drummer, but I am putting him in here because he was in my class at Milton High School, and was always a pleasant person.

9. Brian Furber – Lead guitar

I heard Brian and Roger Furber playing guitars once at Milton High School, and they sounded like The Shadows, the band that backed Cliff Richard. Although I never heard him sing, I am putting his name in here as a memorial, because he was killed by the terrorists. He was also the captain of our rugby team. He did all the conversions – which I longed to do – kicking the ball through the goal posts after a try.

10. Barry Christopher Weimann – piano player

He was the exact same age as me – we were born on the same day. He was my neighbour in Greendale, Salisbury. On the Google satellite maps I can still see the pool we swam in behind their house. Sometimes we would be playing in the yard when his mother would call him in for his piano lessons. The same for his brother Peter. I am putting his name in here too as a memorial. When he was a pilot in the air force, his plane was shot down by the terrorists.

11. Tony Law – guitar player

We played guitar together in Bulawayo. I remember watching ‘Hollywood a go go’  on TV at his home. His sister was Sue. He got shot by the terrorists while on guard duty on a train.

12. John Hitchcock – singer, piano player and preacher

Back in the 70′s John invited me to sing at his church in Fort Victoria. He later made a few LP records in South Africa. Since then he moved to the United States.

13. Yan Venter – singer and preacher

I met Yan in Fort Victoria and have one of his LP records in my possession. Dr. Yan now concentrates on preaching in America and around the world.

14. Don Foster – When you’re in love

I was born in England, and named after Captain Donald Edgar Wills of the RAF. After the war, when I was 9 months old, my parents went back to Rhodesia. So I grew up in Rhodesia, and that was the world I knew.

Don Foster – It was the Rapture

Don Foster – That Elvis guitar

I just want to mention that the newspaper people changed some of the things I wrote.

Here is some money that my uncle sent me from Zimbabwe.

15. Tommy Archibald – Journey

He tells of how his truck hit a landmine, and he survived. Very interesting.

15. Mutt Lange – songwriter

He was born in Mufulira when it was Northern Rhodesia, and although I haven’t heard him sing, he wrote a lot of songs. He wrote songs with Shania Twain and was later married to her.

16. Bev Lemmer – singer, musician, writer

My niece sings, plays music, and has written a few books.

17. Rhodesian singer and musicians

I have been in contact with Pete Shout who does this website, and if any old Rhodies want to send him your information, then he can put it on his website. His email is: rhodiemusic@gmail.com

18. Pete Shout and the Bedrock Band

Pete is from Bulawayo, at present in Cape Town.

19. Dan Shout – Saxophone

Dan is also from Bulawayo, now also in Cape Town.

20. The Believers

21. The Eldorados – El Dorado

From Bulawayo

22. The Cyclones – Golden earrings

23. The Diamonds – My blue heaven

I also have a Gospel web site. If you want to check it out, go to: Country Gospel and Bible