Cortelia Clark facts for kids

Cortelia Clark (born around 1906 in Chicago, Illinois, and passed away on December 24, 1969, in Nashville, Tennessee) was an American blues singer and guitarist. He became well-known for playing music on the streets of Nashville. He even won a Grammy Award in 1967 for his album Blues in the Street. This was his only album ever recorded.

His Life and Music

Cortelia Clark lost his eyesight after an operation in the mid-1950s. After this, he started playing and singing blues songs on street corners in Nashville. He also sold shopping bags to people passing by. He often played on 5th Avenue and other busy spots.

Around 1964, a student named Mike Weesner heard Clark play. Weesner made a short recording, called a demo tape, of Clark at a studio. This recording caught the attention of music producers Bob Ferguson and Chet Atkins from RCA Nashville. They decided to record an album with Clark. Felton Jarvis, who produced music for Elvis Presley, was chosen to help with the album.

In December 1965, Weesner and Jarvis convinced RCA to record Clark right on the sidewalk. The recording even included the sounds of the street and people talking. Clark sang his own songs and also put his own spin on popular pop, country, and blues tunes. Some of the songs he covered included "Bye Bye Love" by the Everly Brothers and "Walk Right In" by the Rooftop Singers.

Grammy Award Winner

Even though his album, Blues in the Street, sold less than 1,000 copies, it was entered into the Recording Academy awards. It won a Grammy Award for Best Folk Recording in 1967! Other famous musicians like Ravi Shankar and Peter, Paul and Mary were also nominated that year.

However, winning the Grammy didn't change Clark's life much. He continued to perform on the streets of Nashville and never recorded another album. He sadly passed away in 1969 in a house fire.

Musical Tributes

In 1973, a singer-songwriter named Mickey Newbury wrote a song called "Cortelia Clark." He recorded it on his album Heaven Help the Child. Newbury had known Clark from seeing him play in Nashville. He said he wrote the song after learning that Clark had passed away.

The song "Cortelia Clark" has also been recorded by other artists. These include The Kingston Trio and Josh White Jr.. Josh White Jr. even named his 2000 album after the song.

Discography

• Blues in the Street, RCA R172587, July 1966; reissued by Collector's Choice Music, 2004