Musician and incomparable tax consultant Neville Hebrard passed away yesterday (January 29, 2011) morning.“Many arts practitioners, including myself, benefited considerably through his vast tax expertise and it was a glorious joy to hand over into his capable hands all my expenses and income at the end of the tax year,” says artSMart editor, Caroline Smart. “I know I speak for all his clients in the creative world that he relieved us of a huge annual headache! He suffered so much in the past years that while we mourn him, for him it is a blessed release.”
Actor and raconteur Frank Graham also remembers Neville Hebrard with fondness: “He was a hugely likable man. His tax company has served me well down the years.”
Neville's first band was known as The Insound and consisted of Neville Hebrard (singer/ guitarist/ entertainer); Clive Lesley; Dave Skippage; John Anderson and Tony Harris; all of whom played together professionally from 1966 to 1970. After the band broke up, Neville and Clive Lesley continued to play together from 1992 to 1994.
Neville's second professional band was known as The Clan and was also a five-piece group with Neville joined by Christine Schutter on keyboard; Chris Grindley-Ferris; Mark Kirkbride and Richard McCrystal. The band started in the early 90’s as a professional group and only broke up when two of the band members emigrated overseas.
Chris Grindley-Ferris, musician and former SABC Durban video editor who now lives in Canada, sent this tribute:
“I remember things like meeting him for the first time when we played Daddy Warbucks (in Annie) at his daughter's school, Maris Stella,“ says Chris. “I can also remember practicing in his dining room, preparing for many, many gigs.
“Parts of one particular gig stays with me,” he continues. “We went to Swaziland to do a performance, I can't remember who for but, apart from riding in a limo for the first time, the actual gig eludes me. However! On our way too - or from - the venue, we were stopped by the police on the road, I think they thought we were drug dealers or something. Anyway, we explained that we were a band, but they didn't believe us, so we all got out the cars and proceeded to do an a capella song by the, then popular, Boyz 2 Men. They were obviously very impressed with Nev's voice and with broad smiles they let us proceed on our way. Music is an international language!”
Neville also played on numerous occasions at private parties and functions with his good friend Eddy Watts. He also sung at weddings in a professional capacity with his daughter Monique Hebrard.
In about 1977 Neville and his good friend Andrew Stengel started playing music together in the Pinetown Catholic Church, at the request of the then Father Chiz. In 1980, flautist Rose McArthur joined the group and this was the beginning of the Pinetown Catholic church 'Folk Group' as they were so fondly known. They continued to play together, with others 'joining & leaving' the group over time, until Neville suffered a second debilitating stroke in 2005 which lost him the ability to play the guitar and sing.
“This was extremely difficulty for Neville to accept,” says Neville’s wife Sally, “and he really tried to continue playing in the group, but could no longer understand the cords or coordinate the music. It was a huge blow to his confidence and he was never able to re-gain his musical ability. Thankfully, this all happened after his eldest daughter, Charnell's wedding when Neville and his youngest daughter Monique, sang The Prayer by André Bochellie & Cylean Dion, and they received a standing ovation. This was Neville's last public performance.”
The funeral will take place on Friday (February 4) at the St. Francis Xavier, Bluff Catholic Church, 21 Sormany Road, (off Marine Drive) at 11h00.
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