Tony Rouse (73), also known as Toni Hughes, was a drummer for a popular group back in the day, called Four Jacks and a Jill.
However, long gone are those glorious times and today he is struggling to keep his head above water, yet he remains determined that he will find a job regardless of his age.
The successful group was established in 1965 with the name Nevada’s.
Subsequently they became the first group in South Africa to wear their hair long and they changed their name to “The Zombies” (different from the well known British Group).
Later they added lead singer Glenys Lynne and changed the group’s name to Four Jacks and A Jill.
In South Africa, they had a hit song Timothy. In 1968 they cracked the American charts with the song Master Jack, hitting the Billboard Hot 100 at number 18 and reaching number three on the Adult Contemporary chart.
The song also went to number one in South Africa, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe).
The follow-up single, Mr. Nico, peaked at number 98 in the United States.
The band did more than 3 500 performances over their 18 years on the road.
Hughes left the band in 1982 and was replaced by Mossie Hills. The group disbanded in 1983 following Glenys and husband Clive’s becoming born-again Christians and thus headed into Gospel music.
According to Rouse, due to the fact that he spent 18 years in the band he started working and planning for retirement at close to 40 years of age.
“I am now unemployed and this affects me, because, as the father in my house, I must support my family, but I can’t, because age stands in my way, even though I’m qualified,” he explained.
“My wife has a temporary job that does not cover our rent, we have lost our medical aid and we have serious medical conditions in the family that costs over R5 000 per month. This has resulted in loan debts of approximately R20 000,” Rouse said.
He has applied for many job vacancies and he is registered with all the senior citizens job agencies but has had no luck over the past two and a half years.
He holds two Unisa diplomas in Middle Management and Customer Service.
Besides being a drummer for the Four Jacks and Jill, he has worn many hats in the corporate world, including general ledger clerk and national sales manager.
Rouse was also a regular contributor to The Star newspaper, as a columnist in James Clarke’s “Stoep Talk”.
He also has limericks and poems to his credit.
“We live in tough times of high unemployment, so I am prepared to do any work that will provide a regular wage or salary,” he said.
Rouse urges anyone who would like to hire him, regardless of his age, to contact him on 073 143 2962.
