Roger Lucey

Roger Lucey (born 1954) is a South African musician, journalist, film maker, actor and educator. In the late 1970s and early 1980s his early career as a musician was destroyed by Paul Erasmus of the South African Bureau of State Security, because the lyrics to Lucey's protest songs were considered a threat to the Apartheid State. Although already aware of his anti-apartheid songs, the South African Government's security apparatus only swung into action to destroy Lucey's career after he performed a radical song in a programme on Voice of America radio. The criminal methods used against Lucey formed part of the testimony given by Paul Erasmus in front of the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission.[1][2]

Roger Lucey
Born (1954-01-21) 21 January 1954
Years active1977–present
Websitewww.rogerlucey.co.za

Career

Lucey holds and Master of Arts in Liberal Studies from Duke University, North Carolina.

Musician, songwriter and composer

Lucey has recorded five albums of his own songs. He has composed music for several documentaries and plays, and has toured Namibia and South Africa playing guitar, keyboard, saxophone, flute and percussion.

Actor, playwright and writer

Extensive work as voice artist on commercials and documentary films. Actor on commercials, both local and international, and performer in films, drama series and plays. Worked with Nicolas Ellenbogen and Theatre for Africa. Writer of two plays for Theatre for Africa; “The High Cost of Living” directed by Andrew Brent, and “Newsroom” directed by Nicolas Ellenbogen. Both premiered at the National Arts Festival, Grahamstown. Writer of several articles on news related stories. An article on the conflict in Chechnya (published in “Playboy” magazine) was nominated for a Mondi award. Arts correspondent for Cape Etc., a lifestyle magazine based in Cape Town. Wrote a chapter in Shoot the Singer!: Music Censorship Today.[3]

Roger Lucey's book, Back in From the Anger, was published in 2012 by Jacana Media. It recounts his experience as a young musician in South Africa during the 1970s and 80s.[4]

Archive

Lucey donated his archival material including photographs, vinyl records, letters and documents, to the Hidden Years Music Archive, preserved at the Documentation Centre for Music, Stellenbosch University in 2017.

Music albums
  • The Road is Much Longer (1979), 3rd Ear Records, 3EE 7004[5]
  • Half-A-Live (1980)[6]
  • Running For Cover (1990)[6]
  • 21 Years Down The Road (compilation) (June 2000)[6]
  • Gypsy Soul (August 2002)[7]
  • Now is the Time (2015)

References
  1. "Tuning into The Enemy". BBC Radio 4. 17 June 2008. Retrieved 25 June 2008. At the age of 18, Afrikaner Paul Erasmus went into the police force. Roger Lucey wrote protest songs and went to political meetings with his university friends. Paul systematically wrecked Roger's musical career, bugging his house, pressurising WEA records to drop him and personally seizing his records from stores. In 1995, he asked to meet Lucey in person and confessed all. They now consider themselves friends.
  2. Roger Lucey, Ole Reitov (April 2005). Video interview. Harare: freemuse.org. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  3. Lucey 2004, p. 67.
  4. Roger Lucey, Back in From the Anger. Jacana Media, 2012
  5. Currin, Brian (February 2001). "Roger Lucey - The Road is Much Longer". South African Rock Encyclopedia. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  6. "Roger Lucey". South African Rock Encyclopedia. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  7. Currin, Brian. "Roger Lucey - Gypsy Soul". South African Rock Encyclopedia. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
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