User:JohannGMuller/sandbox

Don Clarke is one of South Africa's most prolific and experienced songwriters. He has had many of his songs recorded over the years by a diverse section of artists, including his reconciliation song, Sanbonani, which was a hit for PJ Powers in 1986. He has also written most of the music for the movies of Leon Schuster, South Africa's most successful film maker. Don has also written hundreds of jingles and at one time owned a commercial recording studio, several labels and a publishing company in Durban. Over the years he has won a number of South African songwriting competitions, but had to wait for international acclaim until 2013 when he won the 15th Annual Great American Song Contest (2013) with collaborator Kalla Bremer.

Early life
Don was born in Durban on 14 February 1955 in Johannesburg, South Africa. He moved to Durban South Africa in 1960. He attended Hilton College (South Africa) from 1969 to 1970. His two siblings Peter and Alistair also attended the same school. Peter was vice-head boy of the school in 1968, and more recently Chairman of the school board and vice-president of the Old Hiltonian Club.

Music career
Very little is known about Don's early musical career. Don formed the band 'Adult Art ' in 1990. They recorded 3 studio albums from 1992 to 1998. In 2010 the band reinvented itself as 'Don Clarke and the Crutch Mullets' and released a single album in 2010.

Musical style
Don is capable of writing songs in most styles, but is particularly strong in the genres of Rock, Country rock, Folk rock, Modern country, Commercial reggae, Americana (music) and Folk. Don is a purist songwriter that believes that the best songs are written using a single instrument (or no instrument at all), although he does embrace modern music technology and automation for musical arrangement and production.

Music awards

 * Sanbonani (1999) - Honourable Mention Award in the USA Songwriting Competition.
 * Hey Na Splashy (2008) - Winner of the Splashy Fen Twentieth Anniversary Song Competition.
 * Kick it Up! (2010) - First place in the SABC Official song for Bafana Bafana Competition.
 * The Long Walk is Over (2013) - Song of the Year - Honorable Mention.
 * The Long Walk is Over (2013) - Winner of the 15th Annual Great American Song Contest.

Personal life
Although Don is a good performer, his very sensitive, reclusive nature makes performing live a difficult experience for him, so he largely avoids it. He is currently residing in Howick, a town in the scenic Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal, with his second wife, Wendy, and 3 dogs. He has a private recording studio in his home where he works largely on his own. In fact, most of his productions are put together without the help of any other musicians because Don plays guitar and keyboards, has a working knowledge of drums and bass, and is assisted by the enormous power of the digital recording tools available today

Discography
Studio albums  Solo tracks

Filmography

 * Composer
 * Music Department

Social media

 * Youtube channel - Sharke123W