Billy ThunderKloud & the Chieftones
| Industry | Music |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1964 |
| Headquarters | Edmonton, Alberta , Canada |
| Products | Country music recordings |
Billy ThunderKloud & the Chieftones was a country music ensemble from Canada, originating in Edmonton, Alberta. The band was composed of First Nations artists, including Billy ThunderKloud (Vincent Clifford; May 7, 1948 – June 5, 2018), who served as the Hereditary Frog Clan Chief of the Gitksan nation, his sibling Barry Littlestar (Barry Clifford), along with Jack Wolf (Jack Cecil) and Richard Grayowl (Richard Douse).
Established in 1964 and initially promoted as "Canada's All-Indian Band," the group released two singles under 20th Century Fox Records in 1975. Their track "What Time of Day" attained the 16th spot on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, reached number 32 on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks, and climbed to 92 on the Billboard Hot 100. Another release, "Pledging My Love", achieved a peak position of 37 on the country chart. In that same year, ThunderKloud earned the title "Outstanding Indian of the Year" from the American Indian Exposition. The band also appeared at President Nixon's second Inaugural Ball in 1973. Additionally, Billy was honored as a Kentucky Colonel and received recognition as an honorary Shriner.
After 20th Century Fox Records ceased its label operations, the band signed with Polydor Records, where they charted with "It's Alright" and renditions of "Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian)" and "Try a Little Tenderness." In 1976, ThunderKloud was awarded an ASCAP Country Music Award for their rendition of "Try a Little Tenderness."
In 1966, Vincent Clifford appeared as himself on the television program To Tell The Truth, where panelist Tom Poston correctly identified him as the lead vocalist. Following this, the group delivered a live performance for those present in the studio audience.
Their song "I Shouldn't Have Did What I Done" was included in the 2014 compilation Native North America, Vol. 1, which subsequently received a nomination for Best Historical Album at the 2016 Grammy Awards.
Following a concert at Walt Disney World, Walt Disney himself gifted Billy his pet mountain lion named Sim-Au-Git, which accompanied the band during their tours.
Billy ThunderKloud continued to perform live until his retirement in 1991, though he occasionally appeared on stage afterward. He passed away on June 5, 2018, at his residence in Palm City, Florida, due to complications related to stroke and pneumonia. He is survived by his wife Bev; daughters Shawnee and Chey; and three grandchildren. His first marriage was to Susan (Lawrence) Clifford from Richland Center, Wisconsin, later Nashville, Tennessee, where he was represented by Buddy Lee talent agency.
Albums
| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| All Through the Night |
|
— |
| Where Do I Begin to Tell a Story |
|
— |
| Off the Reservation |
|
— |
| What Time of Day |
|
31 |
| I Want to Be Touched by You |
|
Singles
| Year | Single | US Country | US | US AC | AUS | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | "What Time of Day" (featuring 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" | — | — | — | — |