CLEM CROFT

Born at home in North Perth on 25th February 1936, Clem was introduced to music, very early in life, as Mum was the celebrated West Australian Opera singer Rosary Mary Dorothea (Doris) Horrigan, whose remarkable record of winning the West Australian State Eisteddfod three years running, is unbroken to this day. Clem started singing in earnest at the age of fourteen, while attending the Billy Barnes School of Music. His first paid gig at a young 16 years of age, was in the beer garden of the Court Hotel, for which he was paid 3 pounds, 3 shillings for his impressions of Johnny Ray and Al Johnson. He took the title of the City Beach Surf Club Talent Quest and worked with Johnny Young and Bill Blaine at the Embassy Ballroom, William St Perth. Other notable venues that Clem plied his trade at this young age were the Lido Night Club in Cottesloe, Canterbury Court in Perth and the Pagoda Ballroom in Como. 

1960 would see Clem include the guitar into his performances, an instrument he states, he wasn’t very good at playing to begin with, but one that would become his trusted companion on stage for the many years to follow, as he would embark upon a National career with his foray to Sydney. Here it was that he was to meet another up-and-coming star in Col Joye and his band the Joy Boys, with whom Clem both recorded and embarked upon a great friendship along with working with the Allen Brothers, from which the internationally renowned Peter was to take the world by storm. After having performed at the Ling Nam Night Spot in Kings Cross, Clem auditioned for Festival Records and was chosen for the recording contract along with Lucky Starr. This was the beginning of a lifelong friendship with the man who “had been everywhere”. 

The next fifteen years or so would see Clem tour through South Australia, Victoria and NSW, notably performing with Johnny O’Keefe in Adelaide, Dig Richards & Col Joye in Sydney, on Woodies Teen Time and Adelaide Tonight, the Delltones in Melbourne, the Bobby Limb Show, the Jack Davey Show & on Bandstand in Sydney. Clem recorded “Yeah Yeah Baby” and “I’ve Walked A Long Long Way (written by his brother Tex) backed by Col Joye & the Joy Boys for Festival & later for Clarion Records, also obtaining billing on the 'Rex 4 Star' EP along with Candy Williams, Barry Pilkington & Ray O’Connor.

Upon returning home to Perth, Clem would take top billing at many venues around the City, often billed as a television star, including the Charles, Como, Raffles & Cloverdale hotels, to name a few along with many appearances on television and guest performances all over town, including the Bobby Royal Show, Club 7’teen, the Annual Fremantle Police Cabaret, performing alongside great bands such as Norm Wrightson & Harry Bluck. He performed a version of Jimmy Dean’s ''Big Bad John'' on Teenbeat to huge acclaim. 

 Added to this, he would achieve listings on the 6KY West Coast Charts, the 6PR Official Top 40 & Vox Music National Top 40 Charts with ''The Man Who Robbed The Bank At Santa Fe'' and referred to by Betty Simmons of the West Australian Newspaper as “Perth’s own Elvis Presley” in part due to the recognisable stage dance moves that Clem is well known for. 

The late 70’s saw Clem take a break from the music industry, moving with new wife Maureen to Darwin where he took on the role of State Manager for ACI packaging. He continued in this role for approximately three years, after which the call of the music industry became too strong, and Clem & Maureen returned to Perth, Clem starting up his 'One Man Band' show, again touring and performing throughout the metropolitan area at all the local haunts and all over the state. The early 90’s would see Clem embark upon yet another phase of his amazing career, taking up the role of principal artist alongside a very young Justin Iemma with the “Ava Go Show” in the Cabaret Lounge in the Burswood Casino. This contract would last for the following 15 years, with State and National Talent Quests to become an integral part of the show. 

Having performed all over Australia with many of the country’s best known musicians and musical stars of the 50’s and 60’s, and entertained within all of Perth’s premier venues including The Embassy Ballroom, Canterbury Court, La Tenda, Uncle Dominics, The Italian Club, The Zanzibar, The Burswood Cabaret Lounge & Ruby Room, along with working with so many of Perth’s personalities through Channel Seven’s Telethon, Channel Nine’s Appealathon, not to mention the numerous television appearances in the East & the many chart entries and hits, it’s no surprise that this legend of the music industry would be inducted into the Powerplay/Capital Hall Of Fame in 2003.

SINGLES

''Mule Skinner Blues / I've Walked A Long, Long Way'' 1965 Clarion
''The Man Who Robbed The Bank At Sante Fe (#100) / Just A Closer Walk With Thee [with Joy Mulligan] 1968 Clarion
''Jimmie's Song / Hey Little Star'' 1968 Clarion
''Muleskinner Blues / Jimmy's Song'' 1972 RCA

References

http://top100singles.blogspot.com.au/