Clancy Carlile facts for kids

Clancy Carlile (born January 18, 1930 – died June 4, 1998) was an American writer and screenwriter. He was also of Cherokee heritage. He is famous for his 1980 book Honkytonk Man, which was turned into a movie by Clint Eastwood.

Early Life and Education

Clancy Carlile was born in Oklahoma. His father was Cherokee, connecting him to Native American heritage. He had a childhood where he moved around a lot. He moved to Texas when he was young.

Carlile didn't finish high school. He worked picking cotton and then fruit in California with his family. He joined the army and served during the Korean War. After the war, he went to college and earned a master's degree from San Francisco State University.

Writing Career

Carlile started writing in the early 1960s. He wrote his first novel, As I Was Young and Easy, in just 17 days. Later, he wrote Spore 7 in 1979.

Famous Works

His novel Honkytonk Man (1980) tells the story of a country singer's life. This book was made into a movie by Clint Eastwood, who also starred in it. Carlile wrote both the book and the movie script.

His last novel, Children of the Dust (1995), was about the settling of Oklahoma. This book was made into a TV mini-series by CBS. The series starred Sidney Poitier. The story is set in the late 1880s. It features a character named Gypsy Smith, who is of African American and Cherokee descent. He helps African American homesteaders settle the land.

Carlile's book The Paris Pilgrims was published after he passed away in 1999. This book mixes memories, biographies, and fiction. It tells a story about famous American writers and artists who lived in Paris in the 1920s. These included Ernest Hemingway, Ezra Pound, and Pablo Picasso.

Music and Other Talents

Clancy Carlile was also a songwriter, musician, and producer. He played the guitar and sang. He even played with members of the band Grateful Dead. He wrote and performed the song "I'm a Lovin' Man" in 1970. He also contributed to other music projects in the early 1970s.

Personal Life

Carlile spent much of his later life in Austin, Texas. He had a writing fellowship at the University of Texas at Austin. Carlile had a son named Steven and four grandchildren. He died in Austin from cancer at the age of 68 on June 4, 1998.