Buck Clarke facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Buck Clarke
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Buck Clarke
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | William Lewis Clarke |
| Born | October 2, 1933 Washington, D.C., Maryland United States |
| Died | October 11, 1988 (aged 55) Los Angeles, CA, United States |
| Genres | Contemporary Jazz, cool jazz, soul jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Percussionist, Artist, composer |
| Instruments | Bongos, Congas |
| Years active | 1960-1988 |
| Labels | Argo Offbeat Full Circle |
| Associated acts | Les McCann Herbie Hancock Freddie Hubbard Russ Freeman Jimmy Smith |
William Lewis "Buck" Clarke (born October 2, 1933 – died October 11, 1988) was an American jazz musician. He was a talented percussionist who played instruments like the bongos and congas. Buck Clarke played with many famous musicians, including Freddie Hubbard, Herbie Hancock, and Les McCann. His music often blended different styles like soul, funk, and contemporary jazz, with a special focus on African sounds and rhythms.
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Buck Clarke's Early Life
Buck Clarke was born in Washington, D.C. on October 2, 1933. When he was 15, he started working at a store that made display signs. His boss's father was a cousin of the famous jazz musician Duke Ellington. This connection led Buck to listen to jazz records during his lunch breaks and weekends. He quickly fell in love with jazz music, listening to artists like Duke Ellington, Oscar Peterson, and Dizzy Gillespie. Later, he got a job offer at a club in D.C. where he learned to play the conga drums.
Buck Clarke's Music Career
One of Buck Clarke's first performances was in a "Jig Show," which featured dancers and comedians. He traveled to many places, including New Orleans, where he discovered rumba music. Even though some people encouraged him to play more traditional instruments, Buck loved his bongo drums and stuck with them.
When he was just 16 or 17 years old, he had the amazing chance to play with Charlie Parker, a legendary jazz saxophonist. Buck said playing with Charlie Parker and Wess Anderson's band, The Washingtonians, was "mind blowing." At 19 or 20, he also played with Art Blakey's famous band, The Jazz Messengers. Being part of an eight-piece band helped him learn even more about music. He also performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1968, a big event for jazz musicians.
Besides music, Buck Clarke was also a skilled painter. Some of his early paintings can be seen online.
Later in his life, Buck Clarke faced health challenges. He died on October 11, 1988, in Los Angeles.
Buck Clarke's Music Albums
Here are some of the albums Buck Clarke released as a leader and some where he played with other artists.
Albums as a Leader
- 1960: Cool Hands (Offbeat)
- 1961: Drum Sum (Argo)
- 1963: The Buck Clarke Sound (Argo)
- 1988: Hot Stuff (Full Circle)
Albums as a Sideman
With Les McCann
- Second Movement (Atlantic, 1971) - with Eddie Harris
- Invitation to Openness (Atlantic, 1972)
- Talk to the People (Atlantic, 1972)
- Live at Montreux (Atlantic, 1972)
- Layers (Atlantic, 1972)
- Another Beginning (Atlantic, 1974)
With Willis Jackson
- Blue Gator (Prestige, 1960)
- Cookin' Sherry (Prestige, 1961)
- Together Again! (Prestige, 1965)
- Together Again, Again (Prestige, 1967)
With Eugene McDaniels
- Outlaw (Prestige, 1960)
With Dave Hubbard
- Dave Hubbard (Mainstream, 1971)
With Cannonball Adderley
- Black Messiah (Capitol, 1971)
With The Isley Brothers
- Givin' It Back (T-Neck, 1971)
With Nina Simone
- The Great Show Live in Paris (Disques Festival, 1975)
With Jimmy Smith
- Root Down - Jimmy Smith Live! (Verve, 1972)
- Paid In Full (Mojo, 1974)
- Jimmy Smith '75 (Mojo, 1975)
- It's Necessary (Mercury, 1977)
With John Mayall
- A Banquet In Blues (ABC, 1976)
With Herbie Hancock
- Sextant (Columbia, 1973)
With Freddie Hubbard
- Liquid Love (Columbia, 1975)
- Gleam (CBS/Sony, 1975)
- Splash (Fantasy, 1981)
- Born to Be Blue (Pablo, 1982)
With Ron Escheté
- Stump Jumper (Bainbridge, 1986)
With Thelonious Monster
- Stormy Weather (Relativity, 1989)
See also
In Spanish: Buck Clarke para niños
Images for kids
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Buck Clarke playing the drums.
