Gene Clark
born: Harold Eugene Clark Born Nov 17, 1941 in Tipton, MO
Died May 24, 1991 in Sherman Oaks,
Active Genres Rock Styles
Progressive Bluegrass, Country-Rock, Folk-RockInstruments Guitar,
Vocals
Labels Edsel (3), Columbia (3), A&M (
AMG Pick Echoes [1967] - Columbia
Latest release Silhouetted in Light [1992] - Edsel
Very few musicians had as much influence in creating new styles of
music as Gene Clark. As co-founder of the Byrds, he helped pioneer what was
to become known as folk-rock. Clark and Bob Dylan were the most prolific
songwriters of the genre. After leaving the group, he and banjoist
Doug Dillard invented newgrass, a progressive blend of traditional
bluegrass instrumentation augmented by electronics, drums, piano and even
harpsichord. Clark's first solo album Gene Clark with the Gosdin
Brothers, contained country rock, preceding the Byrds' Sweetheart of
the Rodeo by nearly two years and the first Flying Burrito Brothers album
by three years.
Harold Eugene Clark was the oldest of twelve children. He left college
to join the New Christy Minstrels in 1962. Upon hearing the Beatles'
"She Loves You," he left the group and moved to California, where he
met Roger (then known as Jim) McGuinn and David Crosby. Mandolin player
Chris Hillman was given his first electric bass lesson by Clark, and
Michael Clarke was recruited from a beach party to play drums. The
five became the Jet Set, the Beefeaters, and finally, the Byrds, where
their cover of Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man" shot to the top of the charts
worldwide in May of 1965. Clark left the Byrds in early 1966 to pursue
a solo career, releasing Gene Clark with the Gosdin Brothers in 1967.
The following year The Fantastic Expedition of Dillard and Clark heralded
the dawning of newgrass, a blend of traditional instrumentation
augmented by electronics, drums, piano and even harpsichord. After two
years, the ever-restless Clark left the band and recorded the
Dylan-esque White Light, voted album of the year in Holland in 1971 and
praised by Rolling Stone as the album he was born to make. The
following year Roadmaster was released, an 11-song masterpiece that featured the
five original Byrds on two tracks, foreshadowing the reforming of the
group in 1973 for Byrds, produced by David Crosby. Despite the fact
the record sold millions and went gold, the group quickly disbanded
thereafter.
No Other in 1974 and Two Sides to Every Story in 1977 reconfirmed
Clark as one of the great songwriters of his era. In 1978, Gene joined Roger
McGuinn and Chris Hillman for two albums, McGuinn, Clark and Hillman,
and City in 1979. The group toured extensively until Clark departed
once again, and it would be five years before Clark would release
Firebyrd, which includes remakes of "Mr. Tambourine Man" and "Feel a
Whole Lot Better." Clark continued to play solo both home and in
Europe before joining up with Carla Olsen (Textones) for So Rebellious a
Lover in 1987. Clark also performed in A Tribute to the Byrds for several
years starting in 1985, which included former Byrd Michael Clarke on
drums and at various times Rick Danko, Blondie Chaplin, John York,
Rick Roberts, Billy Darnell and Michael Curtis. In addition to his solo
efforts, Clark apppeared on albums by the Flying Burrito Brothers,
Roger McGuinn, Bob Lind, Cooker, the Textones and Primitive Future. Gene
Clark died a few short months after he and the Byrds were inducted into the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He left behind hundreds of songs, an
indelible mark in folk rock, bluegrass and country music, and millions
of fans who mourned the loss of one of the greatest songwriters and
musical innovators of all time. -- Dan Pavlides, All-Music Guide
Similar Artists: Doug Dillard Bill Keith Dan CraryRoots and
Influences: The New Christy Minstrels
Performed Songs By: George Callins , A. Taylor Howard Barnes Carla
Olson Don Robertson Bob Dylan Phil Ochs Gordon Lightfoot
Worked With: Chris Hillman Roger McGuinn Michael Clarke David
Crosby Byron Berline Sneaky Pete Kleinow Jim McGuinn Carla Olson Gram
Parsons Bernie Leadon Jon Corneal Vic Anesini Jim Dickson Terry Melcher
Clarence White Bob Irwin David Fricke Tom Morgan, Jr. Steve McCarthy
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