80's Debut

ROCKING HORSE took to the stage for the first time in December 1985 and traveled South Africa extensively during the decade that followed. The band played in concert venues, town halls, dance halls and at country fairs in almost every town and city alongside some of the biggest names in the business at that time including Ken Mullen, Jody Wayne, Lance James, Clive Bruce, Bles Bridges, Sally Vaughn, Gene Rockwell, Joanna Field and Billy Forrest. They also shared the stage with international artists Laura Branigan and Smokie. On the road, the group developed a crowd-pleasing repertoire of hits and memories and their fan base spread countrywide.

 

Debut album

In 1988, the first ROCKING HORSE album was released on the Transistor music label. Titled Someone Loves You, it contained favorites from the band’s live show repertoire and a handful of songs written for the album by Tony and Clive. The original songs gave a clue to the direction the band was to take in the future.

 

SA’s #1 Country Band

Writing their own songs was what separated ROCKING HORSE from the rest of the country music establishment. Down South in New Orleans the hit from that first album was a cover version of a song by fifties Hillbilly band The Tennessee Mountain Boys. The second album entitled The Bluest Skies, contained all ROCKING HORSE originals and produced the hit I Can't Dance which was written by Tony and Clive. With their blend of original songs and country-pop standards, ROCKING HORSE became a fixture on the thriving SA country circuit. They featured prominently in the line-up of the biggest country shows, playing to tens of thousands of country fans at Joburg's Rand Easter Show, the Cape Agricultural Show, George Country Fair and Algoa Country Picnics. They played to sell-out audiences at the Good Hope Centre in Cape Town, Sand Du Plessis Theatre in Bloemfontein, Playhouse in Durban, Feather Market Hall in PE, East London's Orient Theatre and the legendary Zillertal Country venue in Pretoria where they were awarded a fans’ trophy in recognition of their contribution to SA country music and status as SA's #1 country band.

 

Legacy

ROCKING HORSE stopped performing as a group over ten years ago. Barry Buret turned his musical attentions to songs of praise and worship, and the Ridgway brothers Tony and Clive put their creative energies in songwriting, recording and producing other artists. ROCKING HORSE tracks feature regularly on "Best of SA" country music compilation discs and their songs have been covered and re-recorded by many up-and-coming and well known country acts. I Can't Dance has been covered by numerous top country stars including Clive Bruce and most recently Juanita Du Plessis. Brothers Tony and Clive made several trips to Nashville, USA the country music capital of the world, to test and develop their songwriting skills. They have been prolific writers over the years. Artists who have recorded their songs include Kurt Darren, Jonathan Butler, Lance James, Clive Bruce, Billy Forrest, Judith Sephuma and the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra, Bobby Angel, Cheree, Dr Victor, Leon Schuster, Joanna Field, Sally Vaughn, Bev Scott-Brown, Good Noize, The Boyz, Rene Johnson, Crocodile Harris, Alvin Bruinders, Die Campbells, Liane Heyl, Suzanne, Paul Buckby, Die Campbells, Wynand Strydom, Freda Francis and Juanita Du Plessis.