Tony Clarke (singer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tony Clarke
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Ralph Thomas Williams |
| Born | April 13, 1940 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | August 28, 1971 (aged 31) Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Genres | Soul |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, singer, songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1960s–1971 |
| Labels | Chess |
Tony Clarke (born April 13, 1940 – died August 28, 1971) was a talented American soul singer and songwriter. He was known for his powerful voice and catchy songs, especially his hit "The Entertainer."
Contents
Tony Clarke's Musical Journey
Tony Clarke, whose birth name was Ralph Thomas Williams, grew up in Detroit. He loved to sing from a young age. In the late 1950s, he started making his first recordings for a small music company called Stepp.
A Gift for Songwriting
Tony was not only a singer but also a great songwriter. He helped write two popular songs for the famous singer Etta James. These songs were "Pushover" and "Two Sides to Every Story." He wrote them with another songwriter named Billy Davis.
Chart Successes
In 1964, Tony Clarke had his first song appear on the music charts. It was called "(The Story of) Woman, Love and a Man." This song reached number 88 on the R&B chart.
He had even more success with his own song, "The Entertainer." This song became a big hit in 1965. It reached number 10 on the R&B chart and number 31 on the Pop chart in the United States.
Moving to Hollywood
In 1966, Tony moved from Detroit to Hollywood, California. While there, he even got a small part in a movie called They Call Me Mister Tibbs!.
Legacy and Northern Soul
Tony Clarke's life ended in 1971. After his passing, his music became very popular again, especially in the United Kingdom. This happened in the 1970s as part of a music movement called Northern soul. His songs, particularly "The Entertainer" and "Landslide," were favorites on the Northern soul dance floors.
