'Look up Brother, there's a sky above you . . .'

The real story behind a poem that became a song

Josh Spencer sent me this story after reading my version of what happened to this wonderful song – Look Up Brother –
clearing up the mystery, 43 years later. Poetic justice, can we say?

Here’s the link to what I wrote (badly) some 10 years ago, that prompted Josh’s response:

In 1968 I was a young photographer living in a Parktown artists commune. Having left art school in
Durban I had made my way to Joburg, then the centre of all things trendy and Parktown was the
trendiest of all, a veritable Height Ashbury crammed with wild and wonderful characters. I was one
of the lucky few that briefly inhabited the now legendary 'Friedora', a huge Victorian mansion that
stood on Oxford Road. Sadly, the magnificent house was slated for demolition and we were given
notice. A group of us ex-Friedorians, determined to stick together, found a much more modest house
in Yeoville and moved there.

...read the pdf file >>

3rd Ear SAFMA Free Peoples - Wits 1972	David 3rd Ear Music Office - 1974
City Hall Joburg 1972 - Colin Shamley	Free Peoples 1972 - Mike Dickman
Freedom's Children - Colin Pratley - 1970	Freedom's Children - Julian Laxton - 1970
Abstract Truth - Pete Measroch Out-of-Town 1970	Abstract Truth - George Wolfardt Aug 1970
Otis Waygood Blues Band JHB City Hall 1970	HY Free Peoples 1972 - Mac & Mike
Ken E Henson Jhb City Hall Aug 1970	Louis Greef - Milner Park Festival Oct 1970

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