Most critics will agree that country music has been greatly influenced by both folk music and the blues. Guy Clark's vast body of work is a testament to this.
Clark was born in the Monahans, Texas. He grew up in the Lonestar state, a place that figures prominently into the landscape of his songs. Texas is where Clark met songwriter Townes Van Zandt. Texas is also where he met two blues singers-Lightnin' Hopkins and Mance Lipscomb-both of whom would influence Clark's writing.
After unsuccessfully trying to make California his home, Clark moved to Nashville in 1971. By 1975, he released his first album for RCA Records, Old No. 1. In 1976, he released Texas Cookin'. He left RCA and landed at Warner Brothers Records which would release his next three albums from 1978 to 1983. Over the years, fans have come to know him for such songs as "L.A. Freeway," "Desperados Waiting for a Train," "Texas 1947," "Boats to Build," "Instant Coffee Blues," "Rita Ballou," "She Ain't Goin' Nowhere," "Let Him Roll," "A Nickel for the Fiddler," "That Old Time Feeling" and "Like a Coat From the Cold."
Country fans are likely familiar with Clark's songs that have become hits by other artists. In 1975, Johnny Cash released "Texas, 1947." In 1982, Bobby Bare recorded "New Cut Road," while Ricky Skaggs enjoyed great success with "Heartbroke." Others include Vince Gill's 1985 hit "Oklahoma Borderline," John Conlee's "The Carpenter," Steve Wariner's "Baby I'm Yours," Brad Paisley's "Out in the Parking Lot," and Jimmy Buffett's cover of "Boats to Build." Rodney Crowell and Clark wrote Crowell's hit "She's Crazy for Leavin'."
His eighth album, Dublin Blues, came out in 1995. Clark released Dark in 2002, followed by Workbench Songs in 2006. The DVD Live from Austin, Texas was released in 2007. His 11th studio album, Somedays the Song Writes You, arrived in 2009.
Latest CD:
Somedays the Song Writes You