Certified SA Country Legends (This albums ships from 6 May 2025)

CERTIFIED SA COUNTRY LEGENDS
A Historic South African Country Music Album

Now available on CD or USB incl. a detailed 16 page booklet

This is an album of songs unlike anything recorded before in the history of South African Country music. What sets CERTIFIED SA COUNTRY LEGENDS apart from any other local country compilation, is that it is a collection of original songs performed by the legends that have set the standards for the artform. It chronicles the story of Country Music in South Africa in a unique and authentic way. In so doing, it showcases the community of artists that over the last 60 years have made SA Country what it is today. 

Sixteen songs were purposefully composed and chosen by the Ridgway Brothers Clive and Tony, SA’s foremost writers of country songs and founders of the Country Rock band Rocking Horse, to suit the voices and singing styles of each of the legendary artists featured on this record. Eighteen months of phone calls, meetings, studio sessions, audio file swapping, mixing and mastering followed, from which a remarkable album featuring Bobby Angel, Barbara Ray, Billy Forrest, Tommy Dell, Clive Bruce, Joanna Field, Lance James, Lee Magnum, Vangie Coker, Matt Hurter, Maritza, Paul Greeff, Caroline du Preez, Bernie Williams, Alan Ladd and Rocking Horse crystalized. 

These legends were Country when Country was not cool. They paid their dues, espoused the country way of life, adopted the values of the artform and respected the tradition. Throughout their careers they have taken care of local Country fans, the faithful supporters of three chords and the truth that the mainstream media and music industry consistently ridiculed over the years, labelling them backward, conservative, uneducated, irrelevant. 

To fully appreciate the significance of this project, one has to understand that what lies at the heart of Country is that it belongs to the people. It is a way of life, a tradition. This record could not have come at a better time now that Country has become cool. Not only does it celebrate the end of the golden era of SA Country Music in the best possible way, it offers the shoulders of giants for the next generation to stand on. 

CERTIFIED SA COUNTRY LEGENDS is the product of a labour of love; a work of art signaling the two most defining values of Country – lineage and legacy. In short, a mindful endeavour to make a lasting contribution to the future of Country Music in South Africa.    

The Singers and the Songs:

Bobby Angel & Rocking Horse
Margarita is a Tex-Mex story song in the grand old tradition of artists like Freddy Fender, Johnny Rodriguez and Jerry Jeff Walker – ‘outlaw’ Country, and the perfect voice for that style could be only one in SA – Bobby Angel. It tells a story of sunshine, happiness and living life to the full. 

Barbara Ray & Rocking Horse
It Isn’t Easy To Forget is a traditional Country Swing/Shuffle written for our Queen Of Country Barbara Ray. This song smacks of the type of music made by legends like Kitty Wells and Tammy Wynette back in the day! Barbara’s unique vocal phrasing brings her signature sound and an authenticity to the song, as the protagonist deals with the psychological residue from an intimate relationship.

Alan Ladd & Rocking Horse
Another Someone Like You is a Western Swing tune expressly written for Alan Ladd. It’s a perfect fit for his warm, full baritone voice. As Alan is known as a slow ballad singer, we felt something a little more upbeat would be perfect for this album. This is a love song that overflows with gratitude and sincerity.  

Caroline Du Preez & Rocking Horse
When Love Draws The Line – a perfect fit for Caroline Du Preez, is a smouldering 12/8 in the Patsy Cline / Crystal Gayle tradition written and performed in deference to Owen Bradley’s 50s/60s production formula. There is nothing generic about this heartbreak song as the singer comes to grips with hurt in a most courageous and compassionate way. Caroline’s total commitment to the vocal suggests a modern classic in the making!    

Tommy Dell & Rocking Horse
The Old Rocker is a co-write by Tommy Dell and The Ridgway Brothers – a half spoken (narrated) Slow Country Waltz in the tradition of greats like Red Sovine, Tex Ritter, Bill Anderson and David Allan Coe. The Killer, Tommy Dell has no peers when it comes to this style of Country! Tommy tackles the subject of aging and vulnerability with grace and strength.  

Billy Forrest & Rocking Horse
I’ve Given Up On Love Songs was written for Billy Forrest, in a traditional Hank Williams or Lefty Frizzell Honky-Tonk Hall Swing style. A dance hall floor-filler carrying Billy’s distinctive voice, revealing decades of experience and commitment to the artform. It’s a ‘hard times’ country song dealing with the sensitive subject of love, in a pragmatic way. Billy has been a galvanizing force in the making of this album.      

Joanna Field & Rocking Horse
Soft Hands is a classic slow Country Waltz chosen for Joanna and her crystalline voice because of its message of faith. Absent from the studio for many years, this recording marks Joanna’s return to behind a microphone, and the pure, wholesome quality of her voice sparkles as well as it ever did.

Rocking Horse
Drowning is a “medium ballad” in the Nashville Even 8 style. Dealing with the delicate subject of depression, the song makes conscientious use of the minor chord to accentuate the sadness in the narrative, giving it a haunting, melancholic feel. Typical of the Ridgway Brothers song writing style and the Rocking Horse sound formed over their 40 industry years. 

Maritza & Rocking Horse
That’s My Country is a Honky-Tonk Country Boogie that is both sensitive and strong. For that reason, an ideal fit for Maritza, who articulately communicates the song’s lyric that references the story South African Country Music. 

Clive Bruce & Rocking Horse
When Yellow Roses Turn To Blue is a medium-tempo Country-Crossover ballad with a swinging beat and a plaintive melody. Written around a simple and nostalgic metaphor, the song was earmarked expressly for one of the most recognizable romantic voices in SA Country, Clive Bruce. Clive was the first artist to record a song for this album. 

Vangie Coker & Rocking Horse
No Good In Looking Back, composed for Vangie Coker, is a medium-tempo MOR/Country composition with an easy-blue brushes beat reminiscent of the 70’s Nashville Sound. Vangie’s rich and attractive vocal tone brings a wistful, charming quality to this easy listening song.   

Lance James & Rocking Horse
Going Back To My Boots is an even tempo’d Country-meets-Easy Bluegrass number and was selected for Big Daddy Lance James as a legacy tune with a narrative that fits right in with the late legend’s artist image and vocal style. The song features a gentle and sincere LJ elucidating his partiality to the country way of life. 

Paul Greeff & Rocking Horse
Certified Fool is a Dancehall Two-Step (often referred to as an Outlaw Beat) written for Paul Greeff, an old-school Cowboy type whose Hillbilly voice and pedal steel and dobro playing suits it right down to the ground! This is a confessional song, faithful to the three chord country code. Paul’s steel and dobro licks feature on songs throughout this record.  

Lee Magnum & Rocking Horse
Where My Heart Is – a Medium Country 8 Swing, as one may hear in the Honkytonks of The South. The central character pining for home is a traveler, a wanderer, a cowboy. A song written for Lee Magnum, a classic “Cowboy” baritone – smooth and warm!

Bernie Williams & Rocking Horse
My Love Belongs To You is a 70’s-styled 2 Beat Swing tune featuring major 7th and 6th chords not typical of the 3-chord Country median. Written to create images of driving the open road with the top down and Bernie’s easy-on-the-ear, low tenor voice coming off the radio.
 
Matt Hurter & Rocking Horse
The Ride – an “Outlaw” 2/4 in the Waylon Jennings mould, written for the late Matt Hurter. While the song narrative follows the travels of a pair of country singers it simultaneously pays tribute to Matt’s signature ‘Ride Safe’ song. This is an historic recording, as it is one of the very last vocals done by Matt before he passed away.