The Chieftones
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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.
Formed in 1964, and originally billed as "Canada's All-Indian Band", 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".
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.
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.
After seeing a performance of Billy ThunderKloud and the Chieftones at Walt Disney World, 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.
Billy ThunderKloud continued touring until he retired at the end of 1991. He performed a few times in the years that followed. 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. 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.
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- I Pity the Country - Native North America (Vol. 1) : Aboriginal Folk, Rock, And Country 1966-1985 - The Chieftones
- I'll Rock You to the Rhythm of the Ocean - Native North America (Vol. 1) : Aboriginal Folk, Rock, And Country 1966-1985 - The Chieftones
- Fall Away - Native North America (Vol. 1) : Aboriginal Folk, Rock, And Country 1966-1985 - The Chieftones
- Sikumiut - Native North America (Vol. 1) : Aboriginal Folk, Rock, And Country 1966-1985 - The Chieftones
- Spirit Child - Native North America (Vol. 1) : Aboriginal Folk, Rock, And Country 1966-1985 - The Chieftones
- Call of the Moose - Native North America (Vol. 1) : Aboriginal Folk, Rock, And Country 1966-1985 - The Chieftones
- James Bay - Native North America (Vol. 1) : Aboriginal Folk, Rock, And Country 1966-1985 - The Chieftones
- Maqaivvigivalauqtavut - Native North America (Vol. 1) : Aboriginal Folk, Rock, And Country 1966-1985 - The Chieftones
- Dreams of Ways - Native North America (Vol. 1) : Aboriginal Folk, Rock, And Country 1966-1985 - The Chieftones
- N'doheeno - Native North America (Vol. 1) : Aboriginal Folk, Rock, And Country 1966-1985 - The Chieftones
- Little feather - Native North America (Vol. 1) : Aboriginal Folk, Rock, And Country 1966-1985 - The Chieftones
- Tormented Soul - Native North America (Vol. 1) : Aboriginal Folk, Rock, And Country 1966-1985 - The Chieftones
- Out of the Blue - Native North America (Vol. 1) : Aboriginal Folk, Rock, And Country 1966-1985 - The Chieftones
- Sky-Man and the Moon - Native North America (Vol. 1) : Aboriginal Folk, Rock, And Country 1966-1985 - The Chieftones
- Son of the Sun - Native North America (Vol. 1) : Aboriginal Folk, Rock, And Country 1966-1985 - The Chieftones
- Silver River - Native North America (Vol. 1) : Aboriginal Folk, Rock, And Country 1966-1985 - The Chieftones
- Kill'n Your Mind - Native North America (Vol. 1) : Aboriginal Folk, Rock, And Country 1966-1985 - The Chieftones
- Mistashipu - Native North America (Vol. 1) : Aboriginal Folk, Rock, And Country 1966-1985 - The Chieftones
- Old Man Carver - Native North America (Vol. 1) : Aboriginal Folk, Rock, And Country 1966-1985 - The Chieftones
- Winds of Change - Native North America (Vol. 1) : Aboriginal Folk, Rock, And Country 1966-1985 - The Chieftones
- I Shouldn't Have Did What I Done - Native North America (Vol. 1) : Aboriginal Folk, Rock, And Country 1966-1985 - The Chieftones
- I Didn't Know - Native North America (Vol. 1) : Aboriginal Folk, Rock, And Country 1966-1985 - The Chieftones
- I Got My Music - Native North America (Vol. 1) : Aboriginal Folk, Rock, And Country 1966-1985 - The Chieftones
- Siwash Rock - Native North America (Vol. 1) : Aboriginal Folk, Rock, And Country 1966-1985 - The Chieftones
- Birchbark Letter - Native North America (Vol. 1) : Aboriginal Folk, Rock, And Country 1966-1985 - The Chieftones
- Anaanaga - Native North America (Vol. 1) : Aboriginal Folk, Rock, And Country 1966-1985 - The Chieftones
- Messenger - Native North America (Vol. 1) : Aboriginal Folk, Rock, And Country 1966-1985 - The Chieftones
- Modern Rock - Native North America (Vol. 1) : Aboriginal Folk, Rock, And Country 1966-1985 - The Chieftones
- We Got to Take You Higher - Native North America (Vol. 1) : Aboriginal Folk, Rock, And Country 1966-1985 - The Chieftones
- Utirumavunga - Native North America (Vol. 1) : Aboriginal Folk, Rock, And Country 1966-1985 - The Chieftones
- Ajuinnarasuarsunga - Native North America (Vol. 1) : Aboriginal Folk, Rock, And Country 1966-1985 - The Chieftones
- Hey, Hey, Hey, Brother - Native North America (Vol. 1) : Aboriginal Folk, Rock, And Country 1966-1985 - The Chieftones
- Tshekuan Mak Tshetutamak - Native North America (Vol. 1) : Aboriginal Folk, Rock, And Country 1966-1985 - The Chieftones
- Peruvian Dream (Part 2) - Native North America (Vol. 1) : Aboriginal Folk, Rock, And Country 1966-1985 - The Chieftones
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