Circa: Mid 70’s
Home town: Gwelo
Members:
- Steve “Lofty” Hughes – Vocals
- Jerry Parker – (Later replaced by Paul Stromsoe)
- Ryk De Kok – Lead guitar
- Pete Badenhorst – Bass
- Roger Cowling – Drums (Later replaced by Joey De Kok)
The Broake emerged from what originally started out, in 1962, as The Strangers and was made up of members of the Rhodesian Air Force based at Thornhill in Gwelo. Roger Cowling recalls his somewhat novel entry into the band occurring after he had been interrupted “playing knitting needles in his Thornhill billet!” by Pete Badenhorst. Pete asked if he played drums and, when he replied that he did, he was invited to a practice and was immediately hired. Roger had not had any formal training but had inherited a love of music from his Father, a double bass player who had performed for Reps and the Salisbury Orchestra, as well as undertaking various gigs in the surrounding districts.
The band’s material relied, mainly, on covers with a sprinkling of original songs here and there. Their circuit included Wings’ Balls, passing out parade celebratory functions, lunchtime sessions at the Midlands hotel, gigs at the Hotel Vic in Fort Victoria, RISCO at Redcliff, the Salisbury Agricultural show’s rock band contest (where they were placed a creditable 6th!), Rhodesia Television in Bulawayo and a number of appearances at various sports clubs and town halls.
Of the band members subsequent fortunes, Paul Stromsoe, sadly, passed away in England in recent years. The other members remain on contact although they live in various countries. Roger Cowling’s son, Rob, is a director of Sheer Sound in Johannesburg.
See also the ESTABLISHMENT and the NEW ESTABLISHMENT.