Gary Clark Jr. facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gary Clark Jr.
Clark performing at the North Coast Music Festival in 2013.
Background information
Birth name	Gary Lee Clark Jr.
Born	(1984-02-15) February 15, 1984 (age 41) Austin, Texas, U.S.
Genres	Blues rock Hard rock Soul R&B
Occupation(s)	Musician Singer Songwriter
Instruments	Vocals Guitar
Years active	1996–present
Labels	Hotwire Unlimited Warner

Gary Lee Clark Jr. (born February 15, 1984) is an American musician famous for his amazing guitar skills. He is known for mixing different music styles like blues, rock, and soul music. He even adds a little bit of hip hop to his songs.

In 2011, Clark signed a record deal with Warner Bros. Records. He released his first EP, The Bright Lights, that same year. This was followed by popular albums like Blak and Blu (2012) and The Story of Sonny Boy Slim (2015). Clark is also known for his exciting live shows. He has released live albums, including Gary Clark Jr. Live (2014).

Clark has won several Grammy Awards. In 2014, he won for Best Traditional R&B Performance for his song "Please Come Home." In 2020, he won two more Grammys for his song "This Land". His newest album, JPEG Raw, came out in 2024.

Musical Journey

How It All Started

Gary Clark Jr. was born and grew up in Austin, Texas. He received his first guitar for Christmas when he was 13 years old. He taught himself how to play by reading books from his school library. He also learned by listening to bands like Green Day and Nirvana, and famous blues guitarists like Jimmy Reed and Stevie Ray Vaughan.

As a teenager, Clark played at small events around Austin. He met a club owner named Clifford Antone, who helped him get started. Antone's music club was a famous spot where other great guitarists, like Jimmie Vaughan and Stevie Ray Vaughan, became stars. Meeting people in the Austin music scene helped Clark build his career.

Working with Other Artists

Over the years, Clark has worked with many famous musicians. In 2010, he sang on a cover of the Jackson 5's song "I Want You Back" for Sheryl Crow's album.

In 2012, he worked with Alicia Keys on her album Girl on Fire. They wrote the song "Fire We Make" together. That same year, Clark released his first major album, Blak and Blu. It was a big success, reaching number six on the Billboard 200 chart.

In 2014, he recorded the song "What Did I Do? / God as My Witness" with the rock band Foo Fighters for their album Sonic Highways. He also appeared on albums by artists like Tech N9ne and Childish Gambino.

Hit Songs and Albums

Clark's second major album, The Story of Sonny Boy Slim, was released in 2015. In 2017, he released a cover of the Beatles' song "Come Together". This version was used in the superhero movie Justice League and became his first single to appear on the Billboard charts.

In 2019, Clark released the album This Land. The title song, "This Land", is a powerful track about his experiences. The album was very successful and won him a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album.

Live Performances

Gary Clark Jr. is famous for his live shows and has performed at major music festivals all over the world.

Famous Festival Appearances

In 2010, he played at the Crossroads Guitar Festival, a famous event hosted by Eric Clapton. He has also performed multiple times at the Bonnaroo Music Festival in Tennessee. His performances are often streamed online for fans to watch.

He has played at many other festivals, including:

• Coachella
• Glastonbury Festival
• Lollapalooza
• Newport Folk Festival

Special Concerts

In 2012, Clark performed at the White House for a special event called "Red, White and Blues." He shared the stage with music legends like B.B. King, Mick Jagger, and Jeff Beck.

He has also toured with the Rolling Stones. In 2012, he joined them on stage in Brooklyn and New Jersey to play the song "Going Down." He also performed with them in Boston in 2013.

In 2014, he performed a tribute to The Beatles with Dave Grohl and Joe Walsh. He also played during the NBA All-Star Game Halftime Show.

Film and Television Appearances

Besides his music career, Gary Clark Jr. has also appeared in movies and TV shows.

• He acted in the 2007 movie Honeydripper.
• He and his band were in an episode of the TV show Friday Night Lights.
• He performed in the 2014 movie Chef.
• He played the famous blues musician Arthur Crudup in the 2022 movie Elvis.

Awards and Recognition

Gary Clark Jr. has received many awards for his music. When he was only 17, the Mayor of Austin declared May 3, 2001, to be "Gary Clark Jr. Day." He has also won several Austin Music Awards, including "Band of the Year" and "Musician of the Year."

Rolling Stone magazine has called him the "Best Young Gun" in rock music.

Grammy Awards

Clark has won four Grammy Awards from six nominations.

His Instruments

Gary Clark Jr. is known for playing several types of guitars. He often uses Epiphone Casino and Gibson SG electric guitars. He also plays Fender Stratocaster and Fender Telecaster guitars. For his acoustic songs, he uses Epiphone and Gibson Hummingbird guitars.

He even has his own special edition guitar, the Blak & Blu Epiphone Casino. To create his unique sound, he uses a Fender Vibro-King amplifier and different effects pedals, especially fuzz and wah pedals.

Personal Life

In 2016, Clark married Australian model Nicole Trunfio. They have three children. The family lives on a 50-acre horse ranch in Kyle, Texas. Clark has said that a negative experience with a neighbor about his ownership of the ranch inspired him to write the song "This Land."

Clark also uses his fame to help others. He has performed at charity events like Alicia Keys' Black Ball benefit to raise money for children with AIDS in Africa.

Discography

Studio Albums

Live Albums

Guest Appearances

• Booker T. Jones – "Austin City Blues" on Sound the Alarm (2013)
• The-Dream – "Too Early" on IV Play (2013)
• Talib Kweli – "Demonology" (featuring Big K.R.I.T.) on Gravitas (2013)
• Foo Fighters – "What Did I Do? / God As My Witness" on Sonic Highways (2014)
• Tech N9ne – "No Gun Control" (featuring Krizz Kaliko) on The Storm (2016)
• Childish Gambino – "The Night Me And Your Mama Met" on "Awaken, My Love!" (2016)
• ZZ Ward – "Ride" on Cars 3 soundtrack (2017)
• Tom Morello – "What It's At Ain't What It Is" (featuring Nico Stadi) on The Atlas Underground (2018)
• Slash – "Crossroads" on ... of the Damned (2024)

See also

In Spanish: Gary Clark Jr. para niños