WC Clark is called the godfather of the Austin
blues for a good reason. Blues greats from Stevie Ray and Jimmie Vaughan,
Marcia Ball, Lou Ann Barton and countless others have all fallen under his
tutelage at some point.
A multiple award winner, legendary guitarist,
singer and songwriter, when I asked him about his career defining moments he
said, "playing at Rockefeller Center and seeing the signs advertising some
of the great blues and jazz players that had performed there...that was a big
one for me." Having his crowds be a mix of young and old is also one of
the things he says defines him most.
He is also defined by his southern upbringing in
Austin, Texas. His stories to me included several about his grandmother, who was
half Cherokee, and who taught him about love and respect. "I'd go to the
store with my mother or my grandmother, and if there was someone struggling
with their groceries, they'd tell me to go ask them if they needed help. I
still do that now. You see somebody that needs help, that’s what you do."
Clark comes from a world that for the most part,
no longer exists, but he has not forgotten it. His music harkens back to a time
of gospel, family and struggles met head on with grace and kindness. "I
never even went to a doctor until I was 17. My grandmother always cured us of
everything. I remember her rubbing sardines on my chest to cure us of
diphtheria."
Clark's road has been one traveled once and
then again, always with a story to tell. "One time, we were coming back to
Austin. It's was my turn to drive so some of the guys asked if they could drink
beer in the van. I told them, no!" They told me they wanted to get a hotel
room so I dropped them off and that's just what they did; got them a room so
they could drink beer and drove back by myself!"
"These young players coming up have to
decide if they want to play for a living or if they want to do it as a
hobby," he said laughing.
"My grandmother told me that 'music is love
just looking for a home,' and I never forgot that." For Clark, who says he
has no intention of slowing down after touring for 40 years, finds a home with
his muse in the clubs, theaters and stages all over the world. "When I
played in Russia, Turkey and the Canary Islands, I was representing Austin.
That's a good feeling."
Since the early 80s, Clark has been bringing his
blues and love to the bar at Cypress Creek Cafe and we will greet him once
again with open arms, Saturday, July 14.
-Temple Ray
Show starts in The Buzzard Bar at 9pm, wristbands $10.
No comments:
Post a Comment