John Edmond facts for kids

Quick facts for kids John Edmond
Born	(1936-11-18) 18 November 1936 (age 88) Luanshya, Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia)
Occupation	Singer songwriter musician
Years active	1956 – present
Spouse(s)	Teresa Edmond
Children	4
Musical career
Genres	Skiffle pop country folk rock and roll
Instruments	Vocals guitar bagpipes
Labels	Roan Antelope Music
Military career
Allegiance	Rhodesia and Nyasaland  Rhodesia
Service/branch	Rhodesian Army
Years of service	(1960–1963) (1971-1979)
Rank	Trooper
Unit	3rd (Northern Rhodesia) Battalion, Rhodesia Regiment
Battles/wars	Congo Border War Rhodesian Bush War

John Edmond (born 18 November 1936) is a singer and former soldier from Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia). He became very popular in the 1970s for his patriotic songs. During a conflict known as the Rhodesian Bush War, he was sometimes called the "Bush Cat."

Early Life and Musical Talent

John Edmond was born on November 18, 1936, in Luanshya, which was then part of Northern Rhodesia. His family had Scottish roots. As a child, he often moved between Scotland and Central Africa with his parents.

He went to school in Luanshya, Edinburgh, and Pretoria, South Africa. John showed a natural talent for music from a very young age. When he was three, his grandmother gave him a mouth organ. He learned to play it in just half an hour!

As a Boy Scout, he played the bugle in the local Scout band. In school, he sang in the St John's Boys' Choir. He also played lead roles in school plays and was the main drummer in his college's pipe band. In 1953, he won the South African Junior drumming championships. After college, John worked at a copper mine.

Music and Military Service

Later, John Edmond joined the Rhodesia Regiment in Southern Rhodesia. He served with the 3rd Battalion near the Congo border, in Nyasaland, and Southern Rhodesia. While in the army, he bought a guitar and learned to play it.

In 1958, he formed a music group called the Bushcats Skiffle Group with two army friends. They became very popular. After his time in the military, John went to England to study computers. He then moved to South Africa in the mid-1960s.

John became famous in Rhodesia during the Rhodesian Bush War with his album Troopiesongs. He also wrote popular songs like "The UDI Song". After the war, he continued to record albums, including Zimsongs and Zimtrax.

In 1982, John's music label, RAM, published a book about his Troopiesongs album and the Rhodesian Bush War. Since 1987, John and his wife, Teresa, have owned a resort in South Africa called "Kunkuru." John also runs his own record label, Roan Antelope Music (RAM).

Albums

John Edmond has released many albums over the years. Here are some of them:

Singles

Here are some of the single songs John Edmond has released:

See also

• Clem Tholet