Billy ThunderKloud & the Chieftones
Billy ThunderKloud
Background information
OriginEdmonton, Alberta, Canada
GenresCountry
Years active1964–1991
LabelsSuperior, 20th Century Fox, Polydor
Past membersBilly ThunderKloud (Vincent Clifford)
Richard Grayowl
Barry Littlestar
Jack Wolf

Billy ThunderKloud & the Chieftones was a Canadian country music band formed in Edmonton, Alberta. It was composed of First Nations musicians Billy ThunderKloud (born Vincent Clifford; May 7, 1948 – June 5, 2018), Hereditary Frog Clan Chief belonging to the Gitksan tribe, along with his brother Barry Littlestar (born Barry Clifford), in northern British Columbia, and Jack Wolf (Jack Cecil), and Richard Grayowl (Richard Douse), from Edmonton.[1]

Formed in 1964,[2] and originally billed as "Canada's All-Indian Band",[3] the group released two singles on 20th Century Fox Records in 1975, reaching number 16 on Billboard Hot Country Songs, number 32 on Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks and number 92 on the Billboard Hot 100 with "What Time of Day", and number 37 on Billboard Hot Country Songs with "Pledging My Love". That same year, ThunderKloud was honored by the American Indian Exposition as the "Outstanding Indian of the Year". Billy and the Chieftones performed at President Nixon's second Inaugural Ball in 1973. ThunderKloud is a Kentucky Colonel commissioned by the Governor of Kentucky and was also named an honorary Shriner. After 20th Century Fox closed its record label, the band moved to Polydor Records, charting with "It's Alright" and covers of "Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian)" and "Try a Little Tenderness". In 1976, Billy ThunderKloud was a recipient of an ASCAP Country Music Award for "Try a Little Tenderness".[4][5]

In 1966, Vincent Clifford appeared as himself on the December 26, 1966, episode of To Tell The Truth where he was introduced, along with two imposters, as lead singer of the Chieftones band. Tom Poston was the only panelist to correctly identify Clifford. After Clifford's identity was revealed, the band performed live, on-stage, for the studio and TV viewing audience.[6]

Their song "I Shouldn't Have Did What I Done" is featured on the 2014 compilation album Native North America, Vol. 1. The album was nominated for Best Historical Album at the 2016 Grammy Awards.[3][7]

After seeing a performance of Billy ThunderKloud and the Chieftones at the Minnesota State Fair, Walt Disney himself gave his personal pet mountain lion to Billy as a gift. His name was Sim-Au-Git and he traveled with the band on their tour bus.[8]

Billy ThunderKloud continued touring until he retired at the end of 1991. He died due to complications from a stroke and pneumonia at his home in Palm City, FL on June 5, 2018. He is survived by his wife, Bev; daughters Shawnee and Chey; and three grandchildren.[8] His first wife, and the mother of his two children (Shawnee and Chey) was Susan (Lawrence) Clifford of Richland Center, WI, then of Nashville, TN where Billy was managed by Buddy Lee talent agency.

Discography

Albums

Year Album details Peak chart positions
US Country[9]
All Through the Night
  • Release date: 1973
  • Label: Superior Records
 —
Where Do I Begin to Tell a Story
  • Release date: 1974
  • Label: Superior Records
 —
Off the Reservation —
What Time of Day 31
I Want to Be Touched by You
  • Release date: 1980
  • Label: CheyShawnee Records

Singles

Year Single Peak chart
positions		 Album
US Country
[1]		 US
[1]		 US AC
[10]		 AUS
[1][11]
1975 "What Time of Day" (featuring the Franklin Road Academy; uncredited) 16 92 32 60 What Time of Day
"Pledging My Love" 37 — — —
1976 "Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian)" 74 — —
"Try a Little Tenderness" 47 — —
"It's Alright" 77 — —
1977 "Oklahoma Wind" — — —

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 420. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
  2. ↑ Wright-McLeod, Bryan (2005). The encyclopedia of native music : more than a century of recordings from wax cylinder to the Internet. Tucson: University of Arizona Press. pp. 193. ISBN 9780816524471. Chieftones.
  3. 1 2 Deusner, Stephen (November 25, 2014). "Native North America (Vol. 1): Aboriginal Folk, Rock, and Country 1966–1985". Pitchfork.com. Pitchfork Media.
  4. ↑ "Billy ThunderKloud & the Chieftones biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  5. ↑ Clifford, Bev. "Singer Billy ThunderKloud Passed Away on June 5, 2018 From Complications From a Stroke/Pneumonia at His Home in Palm City, FL". Newswire. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  6. ↑ CBS Television. "To Tell the Truth". You Tube. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  7. ↑ "58th Annual Grammy Award Winners and Nominees". NARAS. February 16, 2016. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
  8. 1 2 Oermann, Robert K. "Country Singer Billy ThunderKloud Dies". Music Row. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  9. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Joel Whitburn Presents Hot Country Albums: Billboard 1964 to 2007. Record Research, Incorporated. p. 247. ISBN 9780898201734.
  10. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 240.
  11. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 310. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
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