“Hilton’s a musical genius and a larger-than-life personality” touts Calum MacNaughton, filmmaker and co-producer of the eminent music documentary Jou Ma Se Goema (Hilton’s the cool dude in the white, sleeveless T shirt).
Artistically, we cannot argue: the pianist and composer plays 16 instruments fluidly, appears on 29 CDs and co-started the first black South African rock band, The Genuines (circa mid 1980s). But physically, none of us is larger than life, not even the living legends.
Beset with kidney cancer, the SAMA award-winner, poet, sculptor, painter and writer has been in and out of hospital recently, suffering from an overactive thyroid. While the irony is not lost on him, the disease hasn’t managed to debilitate his proactive attitude. “I am very thin as I’m losing a lot of weight … but I am being very strong and upbeat. You have to be.”
Indeed you do, with a legacy like his. Not only is Schilder an accomplished jazz musician, he and the late Alex Van Heerden were key collaborators in Rock Art – an electronic Goema band, giving contemporary kudos to a traditional sound that nobody really knows how to classify (watch the video for a clue).
His range of work has earned him strong appeal and regard in the public
In an expression of love and respect for a lifetime’s creativity, local artists have pooled their talents and resources in a series of benefit gigs to help cover the rising costs of Schilder’s specialist medical treatment. The rollcall of accomplished creatives says it all:
On 4 July, the Alvyn Dyers Trio, the Glen Robertson band, the John Hassan band, Allou April, Nicolas Williams and Darren English performed at Swingers. On 26 July, Errol Dyers, Charlie Louw, Steven Erasmus, Mac Mckenzie, Carambola, Aldridge Schilder and others played at The G-Spot in Epping Industria. On 1 August, Steve Newman, Errol Dyers, Mark Fransman, Jack Momple, Steven Erasmus and others performed at at the B Lounge, Old Biscuit Mill.
On 8 August, the District Six Museum and the Fugard Theatre hosted a performance featuring some of the former Sons of Table Mountain who played with Robbie Jansen, Mandisi Dyantyi, Kyle Shepherd, former District Sixer saxophonist Willie Jales, Tina Schouw and rapper Jitsvinger.
Artist and musician Tyrone Apollis donated one of his large canvas abstract paintings for auction. Photographer George Hallet, known for his documenting of African music and the literary scene most historically during the 70s and 80s, has donated a classic black and white image titled: Vernon Terrace (1968) in District Six and Wayne Barker has donated two artworks.
Schilder is deeply grateful for the efforts made by the greater Cape Town creative community. “I feel warm inside thinking how much the musicians care about me and I thank all those kind people who have supported me with medical expenses.”
If you’re keen to contribute and give a legend more to live for,
Join his page on: www.facebook.com/pages/Hilton-Schilder-Trust
Or contact Jai Reddy on 082 4427 922.
