John Oakley-Smith, born in 1950 in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), was a musician who gained recognition in South Africa during the 1970s. After a brief period in Angola, he relocated to Cape Town in 1970. Oakley-Smith's musical journey began early; he developed an interest in piano at the age of five, encouraged by his mother, who was also a pianist. However, a broken leg at 14 sidelined his piano playing for two years, prompting him to teach himself guitar. Despite his skill on the guitar, he maintained a preference for the piano.
He pursued an arts degree at the University of Cape Town but left before completion to write music for a witches' dance in the obscure ballet production "Dark of the Moon." By 1970, he had moved to Johannesburg, where he composed music for various plays, television shows, and films, including works highlighted by Muff Andersson, such as "People," "Stephan Bouwer's film 'n Bars Loop Deur die Wasbak," "Katinka Heyns 'n Rand 'n Droom," "Story Time," and "Lysistrata."
In 1976, Oakley-Smith released his debut album, "Matinees on Saturdays." Although it garnered acclaim, it struggled for airplay due to restrictions imposed by the South African Broadcasting Corporation on six of its songs. His music is challenging to categorize, but Mike Waddacor described it as a hybrid folk style distinct from mainstream contemporary genres. Oakley-Smith’s lyrics often blended social criticism, sarcasm, and humor, which were not well-received by the South African authorities.
In 1979, he signed a songwriting contract with Warner Brothers and performed at an international music convention in the Virgin Islands. The late 1970s and 1980s saw sporadic performances, including his participation in the Elastic Head Band alongside Gikas Marks, David Marks, Mac, Leonie Hofmeyr, and Mike Dickman. He also took part in the "Roots and Shoots" show and a "Tribute to John Betjeman," co-starring with actor Richard Haines at the Laager. After a two-year hiatus, he returned to the stage in 1983, performing to a small audience and showcasing songs from "Matinees on Saturdays" along with new material.
Throughout his career, Oakley-Smith performed at various venues, including Mangles Theatre, The Troubadour, The Chelsea Theatre, and Market Theatre Café. Waddacor noted that while Oakley-Smith's music might become less accessible with changing tastes, he remained an admirable individualist creating beautiful music. In the 1980s, he returned to Zimbabwe and retired from public performance.
Despite his low profile as a performer, Oakley-Smith continued to engage in diverse creative endeavors. During the 1990s, he collaborated with notable theatre director Glen Walford in London, contributing to productions such as Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing," produced under the Royal Shakespeare Company, and a reimagined version of "The Picture of Dorian Gray."
In the early 2000s, he worked as a music and cultural teacher at Hillcrest College in Penhalonga, Zimbabwe. After retiring from teaching, he authored a book titled "If I Should Die Before I Wake," which investigates a massacre of young men in Sea Point, Cape Town. He also assisted various authors with editing and proofing work, including Andrew Brel’s book "The Emergency Bizouki Player." His last two projects focused on corruption in Mutare, Zimbabwe, titled "Diamond City Blues," and a biography of a prominent Rhodesian family, for which he served as an uncredited author.
John Oakley-Smith was married to Theresa Oakley-Smith and had one son, John Lucien Oakley-Smith. Tragically, he was found murdered at his home in Mutare, Zimbabwe, following a home invasion in 2021. Throughout his life, he mentored many young pianists and musicians in Mutare. In 2017, he donated his archival materials, including photographs, vinyl records, letters, and documents, to the Hidden Years Music Archive, housed at the Documentation Centre for Music, Stellenbosch University.
