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{{Infobox musical artist
'''Roger Lucey''' (born 1954) is a South African musician, journalist, film maker, actor and educator. In the late 1970s and early 1980s his early career as a musician was destroyed by [[Paul Erasmus]] of the [[South African Bureau of State Security]], because the lyrics to Lucey's [[protest song]]s were considered a threat to the [[Apartheid]] State. Although already aware of his anti-apartheid songs, the South African Government's security apparatus only swung into action to destroy Lucey's career after he performed a radical song in a programme on [[Voice of America]] radio. The criminal methods used against Lucey formed part of the testimony given by Paul Erasmus in front of the [[South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/proginfo/radio/wk25/tue.shtml|publisher= [[BBC Radio 4]]|date= 17 June 2008|title=Tuning into The Enemy |access-date= 25 June 2008|quote=At the age of 18, Afrikaner Paul Erasmus went into the police force. Roger Lucey wrote protest songs and went to political meetings with his university friends. Paul systematically wrecked Roger's musical career, bugging his house, pressurising WEA records to drop him and personally seizing his records from stores. In 1995, he asked to meet Lucey in person and confessed all. They now consider themselves friends.}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media
| people =Roger Lucey, Ole Reitov
| name = Roger Lucey
| background = solo_singer
| date = April 2005
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1954|01|21|df=yes}}
| year =
| birth_place = Durban
| title =Video interview
| genre = rock 'n roll, blues, jazz, kwela
| trans-title =
| years_active = 1977–present
| medium =
| label = 3rd Ear Music, Wea International, Rootspring
| language =
| website = {{URL|http://www.rogerlucey.co.za}}
| url =http://freemuse.webhotel.net/stream/Roger24K.mp3
}}
| access-date =2015-08-25
'''Roger Lucey''' (born 1954) is a [[South Africa|South African musician]], journalist, filmmaker, actor, and educator. In the late 1970s and early 1980s his early career as a musician was destroyed by [[Paul Erasmus]] of the [[Security Branch (South Africa)|Security Branch]] of the [[South African Police]], because the lyrics to Lucey's [[protest song]]s were considered a threat to the [[Apartheid]] State.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Drewett |first=Michael |date=January 2005 |title='Stop This Filth': The Censorship of Roger Lucey's music in Apartheid South Africa |journal=SAMUS |volume=25 |issue=1 |pages=53–70}}</ref> Although already aware of his anti-apartheid songs, the South African Government's security apparatus only swung into action to destroy Lucey's career after he performed a radical song in a programme on [[Voice of America]] radio. The criminal methods used against Lucey formed part of the testimony given by Paul Erasmus in front of the [[South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/proginfo/radio/wk25/tue.shtml|publisher= [[BBC Radio 4]]|date= 17 June 2008|title=Tuning into The Enemy |access-date= 25 June 2008|quote=At the age of 18, Afrikaner Paul Erasmus went into the police force. Roger Lucey wrote protest songs and went to political meetings with his university friends. Paul systematically wrecked Roger's musical career, bugging his house, pressurising WEA records to drop him and personally seizing his records from stores. In 1995, he asked to meet Lucey in person and confessed all. They now consider themselves friends.}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media | people =Roger Lucey, Ole Reitov | date = April 2005 | year = | title =Video interview | trans-title =
| archive-url =
| medium = | language = | url =http://freemuse.webhotel.net/stream/Roger24K.mp3 | access-date =2015-08-25 | archive-url = | archive-date = | format = | time = | location =Harare | publisher = freemuse.org | id = | isbn = | oclc = | quote = }}</ref>
| archive-date =
| format =
| time =
| location =Harare
| publisher = freemuse.org
| id =
| isbn =
| oclc =
| quote =
| ref =
}}</ref>


==Career==
==Career==
Roger Lucey was born in 1954 and grew up in [[Durban]] and was strongly influenced by his [[Zulu people|Zulu]] friend Jabulani Makatini.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lucey |first=Roger |title=Back in from the Anger |publisher=Jacana Media |year=2012 |location=South Africa}}</ref> Alongside Makatini, Lucey as a young white child went into the townships which revealed a side from which most white South Africans were separated as per law.<ref name=":0" /> According to Drewett "Lucey grew increasingly aware of the incongruence between apartheid ideology and the lived experience of black South Africans."<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Korpe |first=Marie |title=Shoot the Singer!: Music Censorship Today |publisher=Freemuse |year=2004 |edition=Volume 1 |location=United States of America |pages=68}}</ref> As a result of this awareness, Lucey began writing [[protest song]]s based on this inequality and injustice in South Africa.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Constant-Martin |first=Dennis |title=Sounding the Cape: Music, Identity and Politics in South Africa |publisher=African Minds |year=2013 |location=South Africa |pages=149}}</ref>
Lucey holds and Master of Arts in Liberal Studies from [[Duke University]], [[North Carolina]].{{cn}}


Lucey started as a [[folk music]]ian playing [[acoustic guitar]] and singing covers and his own songs with a very gravelly voice.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |last=Feldman |first=Peter |date=12 July 1979 |title=Lucey's too hot to handle here |work=The Star}}</ref> He started performing in Durban's coffee bars but did not, however, distance himself from political issues such as Alan Jeffrey, [[Steve Newman (musician)|Steve Newman]], the Kitchen Brothers and Jan Hofmeyer.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lee |first=Patrick |date=28 June 1979 |title=Lucey shines at music festival |work=Rand Daily Mail}}</ref> His musical style focused on [[Rock and roll|rock 'n roll]] fused with [[blues]], [[jazz]] and [[kwela]].<ref name=":0" /> Lucey can be regarded as an "activist-performing" through his political songs, who believed in the [[Anti-Apartheid Movement|anti-apartheid movement]].<ref name=":2" /> Despite this, he did not join a political group or become an official spokesperson for any group.<ref name=":4" /> Moreover, when performing live he was oftentimes accompanied by a three-man band called the Zub Zub Marauders with Lucey himself playing guitar and singing.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Ansell |first=Gwen |title=Soweto: Jazz, Popular Music, and Politics in South Africa |publisher=The Continuum International Publishing Group Inc |year=2005 |location=United States of America |pages=}}</ref> In addition to Lucey, the group consists of Ilne Hofmeyr, Tich James and Jonny Blundell.<ref>{{Cite news |date=10 March 1981 |title=Roger Lucey in action at the Chelsea |pages=5 |work=Rand Daily Mail}}</ref>
===Director of documentaries at [[e.tv]] (2007–2009)===
* "''Aria del Africa''" is a film about the changing face of opera in South Africa. It cover the lives of two young opera singers from poverty stricken parts of the country as they prepare for their first professional production.
* "''The Road to Then and Now''" covers the journey of photographer Paul Weinberg as he collects and collates a unique photographic collection in the country. Featuring the work of eight prominent photographers.
* "''Leading Like Mandela''" a look at the six principles of leadership that have distinguished [[Nelson Mandela]].
* "''Mandela''" a five-part series on the life of Nelson Mandela.
* "''Desmond Tutu''" a two-hour biographical documentary on the life of [[Desmond Tutu]].


During the 1970s, Roger Lucey performed his political songs throughout the [[Johannesburg]] circuit also performing in bigger venues such as His Majesty's Theatre and the [[Market Theatre (Johannesburg)|Market Theatre]].<ref name=":0" /> He gained widespread popularity through live performances but also through the release of his albums ''The Road is Much Longer'' (1979) and ''Half Alive'' (1980).<ref name=":0" /> He also received publicity through the press and an interview for a radio programme by [[Voice of America]] that played his political songs.<ref name=":0" /> However, Lucey also received unwanted attention in the form of the South African Police after the interview had aired.<ref name=":3" />
===Director of IA Pictures===


The police set up a variety of measures into silencing Roger Lucey's message led by [[Paul Erasmus]]. Drewett stated that "[t]hese included attending and recording Lucey’ shows (later to be transcribed), raiding his house, interrogating him, bugging his telephone, intercepting his post, and monitoring press reports about Lucey."<ref name=":0" /> Letters he obtained of invitations to [[festival]]s and clubs were destroyed and news regarding forthcoming performances were used to threaten venue owners.<ref name=":1" /> After the release of his records, they were confiscated from the independent stores and by 1974 with the passing of the Publications Act, [[censorship]] of Lucey grew harsher.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Glanville |first=Jo |title=Smashed Hits 2.0 |publisher=SAG Publications Ltd |year=2010 |pages=42}}</ref> A Directorate of Publications were set up through the law, which banned subsequently Lucey's ''The Road is Much Longer'' (1979).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mason |first=Andy |title=What's So Funny: Under the Skin of South African Cartooning |publisher=Juta & Company Ltd. |year=1978 |location=South Africa |pages=91}}</ref> This, however debilitating, did not stop Lucey from recording and performing his music.
IA pictures (a division of Interalios investments) is a production company specialising in the production of documentaries and training videos. Hiw work here includes:


Roger Lucey also wrote the protest song "Lungile Thabalza" (1979), which was also subjected to banning by the Directorate of Publications.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Stahl |first=Geoff |title=Nocturnes: Popular Music and the Night |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |year=2021 |location=Switzerland |pages=132}}</ref> The song discusses an activist who died in police custody.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Banchs |first=Edward |title=Scream for Me, Africa!: Heavy Metal Identities in Post-Colonial Africa |publisher=Intellect Ltd |year=2022 |location=USA}}</ref> Lucey, along with [[Jennifer Ferguson]], the [[Warrick Sony|Kalahari Surfers]] and the Cherry Faced Lurchers, among others, contributed songs to [[Shifty Records]]' ''Forces Favourites'', which was a support to the [[End Conscription Campaign]].<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Van der Merve |first=Schalk |title=On record: Popular Afrikaans Music & Society 1900-2017 |publisher=Sun Media |year=2017 |location=South Africa |pages=110}}</ref> Lucey also wrote songs such as "You only need say nothing" (1979) and "The boys are in town" (1980) that commented on the [[South African Border War]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Drewett |first=Michael |date=2003 |title=Battling over Borders: Narratives of Resistance to the South African Border War Voice through Popular Music |journal=Social Dynamics |volume=29 |issue=1 |pages=78–98|doi=10.1080/02533950308628651 }}</ref> Roger Lucey also toured internationally to countries such as [[England|Britain]], [[United States]], [[Botswana]] and [[Namibia]], among others.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Harber |first=Anton |date=15 February 1980 |title=Big tour planned by Roger Lucy |work=The Springs and Brakpan Advertiser}}</ref>
* ''Guardians of the Bow''. The film covers a unique collaboration and tour of four musicians from Brazil, Angola and Portugal.
* ''The Accidental Busker'', shot in Italy in 2000. It is the story of a musical journey through Italy and premiered at the [[Durban International Film Festival]] in 2004.
* ''Dead Tide'', a documentary about the fishing industry in Mozambique. It is currently being used as an educational film at [[Eduardo Mondlane University]] in [[Maputo]]. It is soon to be screened on [[SABC Africa]].


Roger Lucey formed part of a group that offered an alternative to apartheid hegemony alongside [[James Phillips (South African musician)|James Phillips]], the Kalahari Surfers, [[Juluka]], [[Savuka]], [[Bright Blue (band)|Bright Blue]], [[Mzwakhe Mbuli]], Bayete, and [[Stimela]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Drewett |first=Michael |date=2012 |title=Satirical opposition in popular music within Apartheid and Post-Apartheid South Africa |journal=Society in Transition |volume=33 |issue=1 |pages=80–95|doi=10.1080/21528586.2002.10419052 }}</ref>
===Tecahing and academic work===
Lucey has worked as a trainer and mentor for the [[Media Institute of Southern Africa]]. In 2006 he conducted training courses in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, Mozambique and Durban; these courses were run in collaboration with the Centre for Creative Arts at [[UKZN]].


=== Educational qualifications ===
Lucey has conducted short courses and semesters at [[Rhodes University]], the [[University of Cape Town]], the [[Durban Institute of Technology]] and Helderberg College in video production and media studies. Lucey was a mentor for Cue TV a project of the Rhodes University journalism department in both 2003 and 2004 and has been an external examiner for the Rhodes Journalism department over a number of years.
Lucey holds a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies from [[Duke University]], [[North Carolina]].

===Other TV work===
Lucey has worked as:
*Training consultant to SABC News, 2003 to 2004.
*Founder, producer and presenter of "e Arts", an arts programme for e news.
*Production Manager e-News.
*Field Producer for Wild Things, a US wildlife series for the ABC network. 1997.
*Cape Town bureau chief and deputy SA bureau chief for [[Worldwide Television News]]
*Senior camera operator/producer for WTN Johannesburg.
*Freelance sound recordist for ITN, WTN, BBC and ABC News.
*Senior sound engineer and manager.


===Musician, songwriter and composer===
===Musician, songwriter and composer===
Lucey has recorded five albums of his own songs. He has composed music for several documentaries and plays, and has toured Namibia and South Africa playing guitar, keyboard, saxophone, flute and percussion.
Lucey has recorded five albums of his own songs. He has composed music for several documentaries and plays, and has toured Namibia and South Africa playing guitar, keyboard, saxophone, flute and percussion.

Notable recent performances include:
* Freemuse fundraising concert in the Nelson Music Room at Duke University
* Performance at the [[Museum of World Culture]], Gothenburg Sweden in 2008
* Fourth International Gathering on Freedom of Expression. Istanbul 2006.
* Wordfest. [[National Arts Festival]], [[Grahamstown]]. 2006
* Awesome Africa 2005/6
* Durban International Film Festival 2003/4
* Zanzibar Festival of the Arts 2003
* Second International Conference on Music and Censorship, Copenhagen 2003
* Third International Gathering on Freedom of Expression, Istanbul, 2003
* Songs published in Prof Michael Chapman's ''Anthology of South African Poetry'' 2003
* Mundos World Music Festival, Emilio Romano, Italy 2002
* Ferarra International Buskers Festival, Italy 2001
* Awesome Africa Music Festival, Durban 2000/1/2
* Poetry Africa Festival 2000


===Actor, playwright and writer ===
===Actor, playwright and writer ===
Extensive work as voice artist on commercials and documentary films. Actor on commercials, both local and international, and performer in films, drama series and plays. Worked with Nicolas Ellenbogen and Theatre for Africa. Writer of two plays for Theatre for Africa; ''The High Cost of Living'' directed by Andrew Brent, and ''Newsroom'' directed by Nicolas Ellenbogen. Both premiered at the [[National Arts Festival]], [[Grahamstown]]. Writer of several articles on news related stories. An article on the conflict in Chechnya (published in ''Playboy'' magazine) was nominated for a Mondi award. Arts correspondent for ''Cape Etc.'', a lifestyle magazine based in Cape Town. Wrote a chapter in ''Shoot the Singer!: Music Censorship Today''.{{sfn|Lucey|2004|p=67}}
Extensive work as voice artist on commercials and documentary films.
Actor on commercials, both local and international, and performer in films, drama series and plays. Worked with Nicolas Ellenbogen and Theatre for Africa. Writer of two plays for Theatre for Africa; “The High Cost of Living” directed by Andrew Brent, and “Newsroom” directed by Nicolas Ellenbogen. Both premiered at the National Arts Festival, Grahamstown. Writer of several articles on news related stories. An article on the conflict in Chechnya (published in “Playboy” magazine) was nominated for a Mondi award.Arts correspondent for Cape Etc., a lifestyle magazine based in Cape Town.


Roger Lucey's book, Back in From the Anger, was published in 2012 by Jacana Media. It recounts his experience as a young musician in South Africa during the 1970s and 1980s.<ref>Roger Lucey, Back in From the Anger. Jacana Media, 2012</ref>
==Awards==
* Winner of the Arts and Culture Trust, Media in Support of the Arts prize 2001
* Finalist in Arts and Culture Trust Journalist of the year 2001
* Living Treasures Africa Hall of Fame 2000
* Freemuse Ambassador. Inducted 2007.
* Recognition of Exceptional Final Project. Graduate Liberal Studies, Duke University, 2010.


==Music albums==
===Archive===
Lucey donated his archival material including photographs, vinyl records, letters and documents, to the [https://aoinstitute.ac.za/hidden-years/ Hidden Years Music Archive], preserved at the [[Documentation Centre for Music]], [[Stellenbosch University]], in 2017.
*The Road is Much Longer (1979), 3rd Ear Records, 3EE 7004<ref>John Samson, a [http://www.rock.co.za/files/roger_lucey_the_road.htm review] of the Album ''The Road is Much Longer'' (1979), [http://www.rock.co.za/ South African Rock Encyclopedia] February 2001.</ref><ref>Paul Erasmus, [http://www.3rdearmusic.com/forum/footsoldier.html The Gloves come off], [http://www.3rdearmusic.com/index.html 3rd Ear Music'], 2001</ref>

*Half-A-Live (1980)<ref name=SARE>[http://www.rock.co.za/files/roger_lucey.html Roger Lucy], [http://www.rock.co.za/ South African Rock Encyclopedia]. Accessed 29 June 2008</ref>
== Discography ==
*Running For Cover (1990)<ref name=SARE/>
Roger Lucey produced four albums, namely:
*21 Years Down The Road (compilation) (June 2000)<ref name=SARE/>
*''Running for Cover'' (1979) through 3rd Ear Music.
*Gypsy Soul (August 2002)<ref name=SARE/>
*''Half a Live'' (1980) through Wea International.
*''Gypsy Soul'' (2002)
*''Now Is the Time'' (2015) through Rootspring.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Drewett |first=Drewett |date=2008 |title=Developing a retro brand community: Re-releasing and marketing anti-apartheid protest music in post-apartheid South Africa |journal=Consumption Markets & Culture |volume=11 |issue=4 |pages=287–305 |doi=10.1080/10253860802391292 |via=Taylor & Francis Group}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=28 March 2023 |title=Roger Lucey |url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/1578562-Roger-Lucey |access-date=28 March 2023 |website=Discogs}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


{{refbegin}}
==Further reading==
* {{cite book|last=Lucey|first=Roger|editor=Marie Korpe|title=Shoot the Singer!: Music Censorship Today|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-Yc0xnSfS8EC|year=2004|publisher=Zed Books|isbn=978-1-84277-505-9|chapter=Stopping the Music: censorship in apartheid South Africa}}

* {{Cite web
* Coetzer, Owen. [http://www.3rdearmusic.com/hyarchive/fatarlucey.html In Durban], '3rd Ear Music', originally published in [[Music Maker]], 3 August 1979, Vol 1 No 15
| title = Music to Security Branch fears
* Staff, A [http://www.freemuse.org/sw3992.asp Review] by [http://www.freemuse.org/ Freemuse] of the film ''Stopping the music: Music censorship in South Africa'' South Africa 2002, 54 minutes, Directed by Douglas Mitchell, Produced by Michael Drewett. Accessed 25 June 2008
| author= Staff Reporter
* [http://www.new.co.za/~currin/roger_lucey.html South Africa's Rock Legends]
| work = The M&G Online
| date = 7 July 1995
| access-date = 2015-08-28
| url = http://mg.co.za/article/1995-07-07-music-to-security-branch-fears
| quote =
}}
* {{Cite web
| title = In Durban
| last = Coetzer | first = Owen
| work = Music Maker
| date = 3 August 1979
|volume =1|issue=15
| access-date = 2015-08-28
| url = http://www.3rdearmusic.com/hyarchive/fatarlucey.html
| via= 3rd Ear Music
| quote =
}}{{refend}}


==External links==
==External links==
* {{official|http://www.rogerlucey.co.za/ }}
* {{official website|http://www.rogerlucey.co.za/ }}
* http://www.3rdearmusic.com/forum/footsoldier.html
* http://www.3rdearmusic.com/hyarchive/rlucey.html
* http://www.freemuse.dk/sw9383.asp
* http://www.freemuse.dk/sw9383.asp
* http://www.freemuse.org/sw25424.asp
* http://www.rock.co.za/files/roger_lucey_the_road.htm
* http://freemuse.synkron.com/sw16982.asp
* http://freemuse.synkron.com/sw16982.asp
* http://www.servinghistory.com/topics/Paul_Erasmus
* http://www.servinghistory.com/topics/Paul_Erasmus
* http://www.soundprint.org/radio/display_show/ID/766/name/Tuning+into+the+Enemy
* http://wildeblue.blogspot.com/2009/06/no-more-silencing-roger-lucey.html
* http://wildeblue.blogspot.com/2009/06/no-more-silencing-roger-lucey.html
* http://www.iaspm.net/review/korpe.htm
* http://www.iaspm.net/review/korpe.htm
* A [http://www.freemuse.org/sw3992.asp Review] of the film ''Stopping the music: Music censorship in South Africa'' South Africa 2002, 54 minutes, Directed by Douglas Mitchell, Produced by Michael Drewett. Accessed 25 June 2008
* http://www.mg.co.za/article/1995-07-07-music-to-security-branch-fears
* https://aoinstitute.ac.za/hidden-years/

{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}
* Noam Ben-Zeev, ''Power to Forgive''. Haaretz Daily Newspaper, January 4, 2007 https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/culture/2007-01-04/ty-article/power-to-forgive/0000017f-f526-d5bd-a17f-f73eff1f0000


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME =Lucey, Roger
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = South African musician
| DATE OF BIRTH =1954
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lucey, Roger}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lucey, Roger}}
[[Category:1954 births]]
[[Category:1954 births]]

Latest revision as of 17:12, 19 July 2024

Roger Lucey
Born (1954-01-21) 21 January 1954 (age 70)
Durban
Genresrock 'n roll, blues, jazz, kwela
Years active1977–present
Labels3rd Ear Music, Wea International, Rootspring
Websitewww.rogerlucey.co.za

Roger Lucey (born 1954) is a South African musician, journalist, filmmaker, actor, and educator. In the late 1970s and early 1980s his early career as a musician was destroyed by Paul Erasmus of the Security Branch of the South African Police, because the lyrics to Lucey's protest songs were considered a threat to the Apartheid State.[1] Although already aware of his anti-apartheid songs, the South African Government's security apparatus only swung into action to destroy Lucey's career after he performed a radical song in a programme on Voice of America radio. The criminal methods used against Lucey formed part of the testimony given by Paul Erasmus in front of the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission.[2][3]

Career

[edit]

Roger Lucey was born in 1954 and grew up in Durban and was strongly influenced by his Zulu friend Jabulani Makatini.[4] Alongside Makatini, Lucey as a young white child went into the townships which revealed a side from which most white South Africans were separated as per law.[1] According to Drewett "Lucey grew increasingly aware of the incongruence between apartheid ideology and the lived experience of black South Africans."[5] As a result of this awareness, Lucey began writing protest songs based on this inequality and injustice in South Africa.[6]

Lucey started as a folk musician playing acoustic guitar and singing covers and his own songs with a very gravelly voice.[7] He started performing in Durban's coffee bars but did not, however, distance himself from political issues such as Alan Jeffrey, Steve Newman, the Kitchen Brothers and Jan Hofmeyer.[8] His musical style focused on rock 'n roll fused with blues, jazz and kwela.[1] Lucey can be regarded as an "activist-performing" through his political songs, who believed in the anti-apartheid movement.[6] Despite this, he did not join a political group or become an official spokesperson for any group.[7] Moreover, when performing live he was oftentimes accompanied by a three-man band called the Zub Zub Marauders with Lucey himself playing guitar and singing.[9] In addition to Lucey, the group consists of Ilne Hofmeyr, Tich James and Jonny Blundell.[10]

During the 1970s, Roger Lucey performed his political songs throughout the Johannesburg circuit also performing in bigger venues such as His Majesty's Theatre and the Market Theatre.[1] He gained widespread popularity through live performances but also through the release of his albums The Road is Much Longer (1979) and Half Alive (1980).[1] He also received publicity through the press and an interview for a radio programme by Voice of America that played his political songs.[1] However, Lucey also received unwanted attention in the form of the South African Police after the interview had aired.[9]

The police set up a variety of measures into silencing Roger Lucey's message led by Paul Erasmus. Drewett stated that "[t]hese included attending and recording Lucey’ shows (later to be transcribed), raiding his house, interrogating him, bugging his telephone, intercepting his post, and monitoring press reports about Lucey."[1] Letters he obtained of invitations to festivals and clubs were destroyed and news regarding forthcoming performances were used to threaten venue owners.[5] After the release of his records, they were confiscated from the independent stores and by 1974 with the passing of the Publications Act, censorship of Lucey grew harsher.[11] A Directorate of Publications were set up through the law, which banned subsequently Lucey's The Road is Much Longer (1979).[12] This, however debilitating, did not stop Lucey from recording and performing his music.

Roger Lucey also wrote the protest song "Lungile Thabalza" (1979), which was also subjected to banning by the Directorate of Publications.[13] The song discusses an activist who died in police custody.[14] Lucey, along with Jennifer Ferguson, the Kalahari Surfers and the Cherry Faced Lurchers, among others, contributed songs to Shifty Records' Forces Favourites, which was a support to the End Conscription Campaign.[6][15] Lucey also wrote songs such as "You only need say nothing" (1979) and "The boys are in town" (1980) that commented on the South African Border War.[16] Roger Lucey also toured internationally to countries such as Britain, United States, Botswana and Namibia, among others.[17]

Roger Lucey formed part of a group that offered an alternative to apartheid hegemony alongside James Phillips, the Kalahari Surfers, Juluka, Savuka, Bright Blue, Mzwakhe Mbuli, Bayete, and Stimela.[18]

Educational qualifications

[edit]

Lucey holds a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies from Duke University, North Carolina.

Musician, songwriter and composer

[edit]

Lucey has recorded five albums of his own songs. He has composed music for several documentaries and plays, and has toured Namibia and South Africa playing guitar, keyboard, saxophone, flute and percussion.

Actor, playwright and writer

[edit]

Extensive work as voice artist on commercials and documentary films. Actor on commercials, both local and international, and performer in films, drama series and plays. Worked with Nicolas Ellenbogen and Theatre for Africa. Writer of two plays for Theatre for Africa; The High Cost of Living directed by Andrew Brent, and Newsroom directed by Nicolas Ellenbogen. Both premiered at the National Arts Festival, Grahamstown. Writer of several articles on news related stories. An article on the conflict in Chechnya (published in Playboy magazine) was nominated for a Mondi award. Arts correspondent for Cape Etc., a lifestyle magazine based in Cape Town. Wrote a chapter in Shoot the Singer!: Music Censorship Today.[19]

Roger Lucey's book, Back in From the Anger, was published in 2012 by Jacana Media. It recounts his experience as a young musician in South Africa during the 1970s and 1980s.[20]

Archive

[edit]

Lucey donated his archival material including photographs, vinyl records, letters and documents, to the Hidden Years Music Archive, preserved at the Documentation Centre for Music, Stellenbosch University, in 2017.

Discography

[edit]

Roger Lucey produced four albums, namely:

  • Running for Cover (1979) through 3rd Ear Music.
  • Half a Live (1980) through Wea International.
  • Gypsy Soul (2002)
  • Now Is the Time (2015) through Rootspring.[21][22]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g Drewett, Michael (January 2005). "'Stop This Filth': The Censorship of Roger Lucey's music in Apartheid South Africa". SAMUS. 25 (1): 53–70.
  2. ^ "Tuning into The Enemy". BBC Radio 4. 17 June 2008. Retrieved 25 June 2008. At the age of 18, Afrikaner Paul Erasmus went into the police force. Roger Lucey wrote protest songs and went to political meetings with his university friends. Paul systematically wrecked Roger's musical career, bugging his house, pressurising WEA records to drop him and personally seizing his records from stores. In 1995, he asked to meet Lucey in person and confessed all. They now consider themselves friends.
  3. ^ Roger Lucey, Ole Reitov (April 2005). Video interview. Harare: freemuse.org. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  4. ^ Lucey, Roger (2012). Back in from the Anger. South Africa: Jacana Media.
  5. ^ a b Korpe, Marie (2004). Shoot the Singer!: Music Censorship Today (Volume 1 ed.). United States of America: Freemuse. p. 68.
  6. ^ a b c Constant-Martin, Dennis (2013). Sounding the Cape: Music, Identity and Politics in South Africa. South Africa: African Minds. p. 149.
  7. ^ a b Feldman, Peter (12 July 1979). "Lucey's too hot to handle here". The Star.
  8. ^ Lee, Patrick (28 June 1979). "Lucey shines at music festival". Rand Daily Mail.
  9. ^ a b Ansell, Gwen (2005). Soweto: Jazz, Popular Music, and Politics in South Africa. United States of America: The Continuum International Publishing Group Inc.
  10. ^ "Roger Lucey in action at the Chelsea". Rand Daily Mail. 10 March 1981. p. 5.
  11. ^ Glanville, Jo (2010). Smashed Hits 2.0. SAG Publications Ltd. p. 42.
  12. ^ Mason, Andy (1978). What's So Funny: Under the Skin of South African Cartooning. South Africa: Juta & Company Ltd. p. 91.
  13. ^ Stahl, Geoff (2021). Nocturnes: Popular Music and the Night. Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan. p. 132.
  14. ^ Banchs, Edward (2022). Scream for Me, Africa!: Heavy Metal Identities in Post-Colonial Africa. USA: Intellect Ltd.
  15. ^ Van der Merve, Schalk (2017). On record: Popular Afrikaans Music & Society 1900-2017. South Africa: Sun Media. p. 110.
  16. ^ Drewett, Michael (2003). "Battling over Borders: Narratives of Resistance to the South African Border War Voice through Popular Music". Social Dynamics. 29 (1): 78–98. doi:10.1080/02533950308628651.
  17. ^ Harber, Anton (15 February 1980). "Big tour planned by Roger Lucy". The Springs and Brakpan Advertiser.
  18. ^ Drewett, Michael (2012). "Satirical opposition in popular music within Apartheid and Post-Apartheid South Africa". Society in Transition. 33 (1): 80–95. doi:10.1080/21528586.2002.10419052.
  19. ^ Lucey 2004, p. 67.
  20. ^ Roger Lucey, Back in From the Anger. Jacana Media, 2012
  21. ^ Drewett, Drewett (2008). "Developing a retro brand community: Re-releasing and marketing anti-apartheid protest music in post-apartheid South Africa". Consumption Markets & Culture. 11 (4): 287–305. doi:10.1080/10253860802391292 – via Taylor & Francis Group.
  22. ^ "Roger Lucey". Discogs. 28 March 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
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