Conrad Yeatis "Sonny" Clark (July 21, 1931 – January 13, 1963) was an Ameri… Read Full Bio ↴Conrad Yeatis "Sonny" Clark (July 21, 1931 – January 13, 1963) was an American jazz pianist who mainly worked in the hard bop idiom.
Clark was born and raised in Herminie, Pennsylvania, a coal mining town southeast of Pittsburgh. At age 12, he moved to Pittsburgh. When visiting an aunt in California at age 20, Clark decided to stay and began working with saxophonist Wardell Gray. Clark went to San Francisco with Oscar Pettiford and after a couple months, was working with clarinetist Buddy DeFranco in 1953. Clark toured the U.S. and Europe with DeFranco until January 1956, when he joined The Lighthouse All-Stars, led by bassist Howard Rumsey.
Wishing to return to the east coast, Clark served as accompanist for singer Dinah Washington in February 1957 in order to relocate to New York City. In New York, Clark was often requested as a sideman by many musicians, partly because of his rhythmic comping. He frequently recorded for Blue Note Records, playing as a sideman with many hard bop players, including Kenny Burrell, Donald Byrd, Paul Chambers, John Coltrane, Dexter Gordon, Art Farmer, Curtis Fuller, Grant Green, Philly Joe Jones, Clifford Jordan, Jackie McLean, Hank Mobley, Art Taylor, and Wilbur Ware. He also recorded sessions with Charles Mingus, Sonny Rollins, Billie Holiday, Stanley Turrentine, and Lee Morgan.
As a band leader, Clark recorded albums Dial "S" for Sonny (1957), Sonny's Crib (1957), Sonny Clark Trio (1957), with Paul Chambers and Philly Joe Jones, and Cool Struttin' (1958). Sonny Clark Trio, with George Duvivier and Max Roach was released in 1960.
Clark died of a heart attack in New York City, although commentators attribute the early death to Clark's drug and alcohol abuse.
Close friend and fellow jazz pianist Bill Evans dedicated the composition "NYC's No Lark" (an anagram of "Sonny Clark") to him after his death, included on Evans' Conversations with Myself (1963). John Zorn, Wayne Horvitz, Ray Drummond, and Bobby Previte recorded an album of Clark's compositions, Voodoo (1985), as The Sonny Clark Memorial Quartet. Zorn also recorded several of Clark's compositions with Bill Frisell and George Lewis on News for Lulu (1988) and More News for Lulu (1992).
Clark was born and raised in Herminie, Pennsylvania, a coal mining town southeast of Pittsburgh. At age 12, he moved to Pittsburgh. When visiting an aunt in California at age 20, Clark decided to stay and began working with saxophonist Wardell Gray. Clark went to San Francisco with Oscar Pettiford and after a couple months, was working with clarinetist Buddy DeFranco in 1953. Clark toured the U.S. and Europe with DeFranco until January 1956, when he joined The Lighthouse All-Stars, led by bassist Howard Rumsey.
Wishing to return to the east coast, Clark served as accompanist for singer Dinah Washington in February 1957 in order to relocate to New York City. In New York, Clark was often requested as a sideman by many musicians, partly because of his rhythmic comping. He frequently recorded for Blue Note Records, playing as a sideman with many hard bop players, including Kenny Burrell, Donald Byrd, Paul Chambers, John Coltrane, Dexter Gordon, Art Farmer, Curtis Fuller, Grant Green, Philly Joe Jones, Clifford Jordan, Jackie McLean, Hank Mobley, Art Taylor, and Wilbur Ware. He also recorded sessions with Charles Mingus, Sonny Rollins, Billie Holiday, Stanley Turrentine, and Lee Morgan.
As a band leader, Clark recorded albums Dial "S" for Sonny (1957), Sonny's Crib (1957), Sonny Clark Trio (1957), with Paul Chambers and Philly Joe Jones, and Cool Struttin' (1958). Sonny Clark Trio, with George Duvivier and Max Roach was released in 1960.
Clark died of a heart attack in New York City, although commentators attribute the early death to Clark's drug and alcohol abuse.
Close friend and fellow jazz pianist Bill Evans dedicated the composition "NYC's No Lark" (an anagram of "Sonny Clark") to him after his death, included on Evans' Conversations with Myself (1963). John Zorn, Wayne Horvitz, Ray Drummond, and Bobby Previte recorded an album of Clark's compositions, Voodoo (1985), as The Sonny Clark Memorial Quartet. Zorn also recorded several of Clark's compositions with Bill Frisell and George Lewis on News for Lulu (1988) and More News for Lulu (1992).
Sonny's Crip
Sonny Clark Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Sonny Clark:
Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea I don't want you, but I'd hate to lose you You've…
Blues Blue I don't want you, but I'd hate to lose you You've…
But Not For Me Old man sunshine listen you Never tell me dreams come true …
CAN Took each word she said as gospel truth the way…
Can't We Be Friends Took each word she said as gospel truth the way…
Cool Struttin' (Instrumental)…
Dancing in the Dark Dancing in the dark Till the tune ends, We're dancing in…
Deep Night Deep night, stars in the sky above Moonlight, lighting our p…
Gee Baby Ain't I Good to You Love makes me treat you The way that I do Gee baby,…
I Can't Give You Anything But Gee, but it's tough to be broke, kid. It's not a…
I Can't Give You Anything But Love Gee, but it's tough to be broke, kid. It's not a…
I Cover The Waterfront I cover the waterfront, I'm watching the sea,, Will the one …
I'll Remember April This lovely day will lengthen into evening We'll sigh goodby…
Love Walked In Love walked right in and drove the shadows away Love walked…
Royal Flush Deep night, stars in the sky above Moonlight, lighting our …
Speak Low Speak low when you speak, love, Our summer day withers away …
The Breeze and I The breeze and I are saying with a sigh That you…
You Go To My Head You go to my head And you linger like a haunting…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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Mary Neeley
John Coltrane, Donald Byrd, Paul Chambers, Art Taylor....some of the jazz greats playing with Sonny Clark, who was one of the greats himself. It doesn't get any better. When each plays, one right after the other, at the end, it takes my breath away!👏❤
peterhaslund
These mm are amazing, overflowing with life and joyousness
Mary Neeley
You left us 60 years ago today. R.I.P. You were a piano wizard!❤
Matthias Amadérro
When John Coltrane's solo starts in Sonny's Crib... Good God, he was lightyears ahead of other sax players!
からすカラス
管楽器入りのアルバムで一番好きなんですよね🎵🎶🎹🎷
Mary Neeley
Would have been 92 today. Happy birthday, Piano Wizard! 🎂
Mary Neeley
You would have been 91 today. Happy birthday and R.I.P., Piano Maestro. 💋❤🎂
Mark Bridwell
Thank you Miss Neeley _ _ for remembering Sonny & his cast of bebop greats on these recordings . On these we find the birth of "hard bop" for which has been my musical predilection over the years : Joe Henderson , Wayne Shorter , Kenny Dorham , & esp. Lee Morgan . Pr 3:5,6
Mary Neeley
@Mark Bridwell Thank you for responding. Next month, I am getting Sonny Clark's name tattooed on my arm. Now, that's devotion! Cheers!
VAN
思い出が一杯のアルバムです。
久しぶりに拝聴しました。
入院中なので過去の事を思い出す事が多いです。