Billy ThunderKloud & the Chieftones facts for kids

Billy ThunderKloud & the Chieftones
Billy ThunderKloud
Background information
Origin	Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Genres	Country
Years active	1964–1991
Labels	Superior, 20th Century Fox, Polydor
Past members	Billy ThunderKloud (Vincent Clifford) Richard Grayowl Barry Littlestar Jack Wolf

Billy ThunderKloud & the Chieftones was a Canadian country music band. They formed in 1964 in Edmonton, Alberta. The band was special because all its members were First Nations musicians.

The main singer was Billy ThunderKloud. His real name was Vincent Clifford. He was a Hereditary Frog Clan Chief from the Gitksan tribe. His brother, Barry Littlestar, was also in the band. Other members included Jack Wolf and Richard Grayowl.

The Band's Journey to Fame

The band started in 1964. They were known as "Canada's All-Indian Band." In 1975, they released two popular songs. "What Time of Day" became a big hit. It reached number 16 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. It also did well on other charts. Their song "Pledging My Love" also hit number 37 on the country charts.

Billy ThunderKloud received a special honor in 1975. The American Indian Exposition named him the "Outstanding Indian of the Year." The band even performed for President Nixon in 1973. Billy was also given the title of Kentucky Colonel. This is an honor from the Governor of Kentucky.

Music and TV Appearances

After their first record label closed, the band joined Polydor Records. They continued to release new songs. These included "It's Alright" and covers of "Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian)" and "Try a Little Tenderness". In 1976, Billy ThunderKloud won an ASCAP Country Music Award for "Try a Little Tenderness."

In 1966, Vincent Clifford appeared on a TV show called "To Tell The Truth." On the show, three people pretended to be Billy ThunderKloud. The goal was for a panel to guess who the real one was. Only one panelist guessed correctly! After the reveal, the band played live for everyone watching.

Special Moments and Legacy

One of their songs, "I Shouldn't Have Did What I Done," was featured on a special album. This album, called Native North America, Vol. 1, came out in 2014. It was even nominated for a Grammy Award!

A very cool story about Billy ThunderKloud involves Walt Disney. After seeing the band perform, Walt Disney gave his own pet mountain lion to Billy! The mountain lion's name was Sim-Au-Git. He even traveled with the band on their tour bus!

Billy ThunderKloud continued to tour and perform. He retired from music at the end of 1991. He passed away on June 5, 2018, at his home. He is remembered by his wife, daughters, and grandchildren.

Images for kids

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  Billy ThunderKloud