Musician. He was regarded as one of the greatest blues harmonica players of modern era. He spent 20 years working as a machinist and family man before launching his blues career, performing with his band in Los Angeles ghetto clubs in the 1970s. Clarke wrote most of his own songs such as "Gambling for my Bread" and "Pawnshop Bound". He recorded independently and for Alligator Records with albums to include "Hittin' Heavy" (1978), "Blues From Los Angeles" (1980), "Tip of the Top" (1987), "Rockin' the Boat" (1988) and "Blown' Like Hell' (1990). In 1991, he won the W.C. Handy Award for blues song of the year with "Must Be Jelly" and also received six other W.C. Handy Award nominations. He also toured the Blues Festival circuits with blues harp players Harmonica Fats, Sugar Blue, Big Walter, Corky Siegel and Charlie Musselwhite. He died suddenly of a bleeding ulcer after a concert in Fresno, California, at age 45.
Musician. He was regarded as one of the greatest blues harmonica players of modern era. He spent 20 years working as a machinist and family man before launching his blues career, performing with his band in Los Angeles ghetto clubs in the 1970s. Clarke wrote most of his own songs such as "Gambling for my Bread" and "Pawnshop Bound". He recorded independently and for Alligator Records with albums to include "Hittin' Heavy" (1978), "Blues From Los Angeles" (1980), "Tip of the Top" (1987), "Rockin' the Boat" (1988) and "Blown' Like Hell' (1990). In 1991, he won the W.C. Handy Award for blues song of the year with "Must Be Jelly" and also received six other W.C. Handy Award nominations. He also toured the Blues Festival circuits with blues harp players Harmonica Fats, Sugar Blue, Big Walter, Corky Siegel and Charlie Musselwhite. He died suddenly of a bleeding ulcer after a concert in Fresno, California, at age 45.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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