Heard on the radio today that Johnny Clegg, from the bands Juluka, Savuka, and solo work has passed on. Same age as me. Sigh.
I got to see Clegg and Juluka on their first word tour, when they performed at the National Arts Center in Ottawa, Canada. Can’t remember the year—it was a long time ago. Third or fourth row seats—so close we were getting hit with sweat from band. And did they sweat.
There were always social issues at the heart of his music, but the basic fabric of it was always joy. At that concert I saw folks who had come dressed for a far more staid performance tearing off their coats, vests, jackets and stoles, ripping their shirts open and dancing ecstatically in the aisles. Music to move the soul and move the feet. There was a lot of dancing on stage, and it was contagious. You can’t listen to Scatterlings without being moved. Without smiling.
Clegg got awards, the friendship of Nelson Mandela, and a far shorter life than he—or we deserved.
When I picked up the guitar again this spring after a thirty-some year hiatus, after a month or two I added Scatterlings to the list of songs I wanted to learn. I hate to just post and run, but now it’s guitar practice time, and I feel an urgent need to take another crack at Johnny’s song. Afterward I’ll raise a glass to his memory. So should we all.