Over 50 prominent artists have recorded a tribute track to Johnny Clegg, a legendary South African performer who has made and continues to make an indelible mark on music history, with proceeds going towards an education fund he has set up in his name.
Recorded last year in Cape Town, ‘The Crossing’ features many of South Africa’s most popular and influential artists, as well as several notable musicians from across the globe, showing the incredible reach of Clegg’s work, including Peter Gabriel, Mike Rutherford of Mike & The Mechanics, and Dave Matthews.
Singer, songwriter, dancer, anthropologist, and musical activist Johnny Clegg’s infectious crossover music — a vibrant blend of Western pop and African Zulu rhythms — exploded onto the international scene and broke through barriers in South Africa. In an award-winning career spanning over three decades, he has sold over five million albums worldwide, bringing people from all backgrounds together. Clegg performed at London’s Hammersmith Apollo in 2017 as part of his final ever world tour.
All proceeds from ‘The Crossing’ will go towards Friends of Johnny Clegg, a fund created in Johnny’s honor to help alleviate the education crisis in South Africa.. These proceeds will be distributed by the Click Foundation, which targets young learners with an online phonetics-based programme in centers across the country, ultimately aimed at creating a better future for the youth of South Africa — a cause close to Johnny’s heart.
Commenting on the single, Clegg said: “I am speechless, thank you so much. This is an amazing moment for me – to have so many of my peers acknowledge the song and its sentiments, and that they can use that to further something much bigger than all of us. Thank you.”
‘The Crossing’ is available for download on all digital platforms including Apple Music, iTunes, Google Playstore, Spotify and Deezer. All proceeds go directly to the Friends of Johnny Clegg Fund. For more information on how to support the cause, please visit the website
www.friendsofjohnnyclegg.co.za.
Friends of Johnny Clegg artists who collaborated on track:
Abigail Kubeka, Andre Venter, Andy Mac, Anna Davel, Ard Matthews, Arno Carstens, Bobby van Jaarsveld, Corlea Botha, Craig Hinds, Craig Lucas, Dan Patlansky, Dave Matthews, David Kramer, Dorothy Masuka, Elvis Blue, Emo Adams, Francois van Coke, Franja du Plessis, Gloria Bosman, Jack Parow, Jason Hartman, Jesse Clegg , Jimmy Nevis, Juanita du Plessis, Judith Sephuma, Kahn Morbee, Karen Zoid, Karlien van Jaarsveld, Kurt Darren, Laudo Liebenberg, Lira, Majozi, Mike Rutherford, Paige Mac, Patricia Lewis, Peter Gabriel, Ross Learmonth, Somizi, Stompie Manana, Thandeka Campher, Thembeka Mnguni, Tresor, Vicky Sampson, Victor Masondo, Vusi Mahlasela, Yati Khumalo, Zolani Mahola
