Johnny Clegg Headed to Ridgefield Playhouse Tonight
Dancer, anthropologist, singer, songwriter, academic, activist and French knight. Whilst all of these tags are fitting for Johnny Clegg, none of them can accurately describe the energetic, passionate human being who has become one of South Africa's greatest musical exports. He has campaigned against the injustice of apartheid and been instrumental in putting the new South Africa on the map as a cultural ambassador. His concert at The Ridgefield Playhouse tonight, April 2, at 8 p.m., will be his only Connecticut appearance and promises to be a unique evening of Western pop fused with African Zulu song and dance.
Johnny Clegg's latest album is entitled Human (2010). He is a 1993 Grammy nominee for best World Music Album (Heat, Dust and Dreams) and a Billboard music award winner. Special guest is his accomplished son Jesse Clegg, a South African alternative rock artist whose 2008 debut album, When I Wake Up, and his 2011 follow up, Life On Mars, have both made the 25-year-old a Platinum-selling success in his home country. A wine tasting of South African Wines and a reception with local artist Caron Schwartz, originally from Johannesburg, South Africa, will take place in the lobby at 7:15 p.m. This event is underwritten by Ayindisa?with support from Starfish Greathearts Foundation USA and is part of the Doyle Coffin Architecture Singer/Songwriter and Xfinity Rock Series. An AllShows.com VIP Party Pass ($25 addt'l per person), which includes a pre-show cocktail party 6:30 - 7:15 p.m. with open bar, hors-d'oeuvre and priority parking, is available for this show by calling the box office (203-438-5795).
Clegg's song "Scatterlings of Africa" was featured on the soundtrack to the 1988 Oscar winning film Rain Main. Jimmy Buffet recorded Clegg's "Great Heart" for his 1988 album Hot Water. In 2002, Clegg provided several songs for Jane Goodall's "Wild Chimpanzees" DVD. He co-wrote "Diggah Tunnah" with Lebo M. for Disney's 2004 direct-to-video animated film The Lion King 1-1/2. Johnny Clegg was recently awarded three honorary doctorates from Dartmouth College, CUNY and University of the Witwatersrand.
For tickets ($50), call the box office (203) 438-5795, or order online online at ridgefieldplayhouse.org. The Ridgefield Playhouse is a not-for-profit performing arts center located at 80 East Ridge, parallel to Main St., Ridgefield, CT.
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