Home » Jazz Musicians » Walter Clark
Walter Clark
Born in Brooklyn, New York,
Although recordings of his unique voice and arrangement style have just begun to surface with the 2002 release of his first album, "Perfect Love," Walter Clark has been on the music scene, performing for audiences around the world for over 30 years. He has become a fixture at such upscale hotels as The Ritz Carlton in Osaka Japan. With a repertoire of over 500 songs spanning multiple genres and decades he has been able to excite and satisfy listeners of varied backgrounds and maintain a career exclusively as a full-time performing artist since 1980. Unique and non- traditional in his approach to harmony and arrangement. Sometimes called "the singer with the bedroom voice," he covers music that has a positive message timelessness and staying power. Through a wide variety of musical genres and original arrangements Walter imbues every performance with a jazz ambiance delivering relaxing renditions of ballads and love songs. My new CD Night And Day, has an emphasis on love songs. Its a collection of recordings made from 2001-2020, some from old CDs and vintage live recordings, others are more recent, since my rebuilding and relocation of the studio. Although my preference is to make the emotional quality of music more important than technical aspects, I do my best to faithfully serve the original writers of the songs. His CD, "Best Thing to Come," was released early in August of 2011. Blending elements of lounge, new age, ethnic, jazz, rock, pop and gospel music. Featuring new songs and new arrangements of earlier songs. Intimate and laid back, smooth vocals with thoughtful, uplifting lyrics. No pitch shifted vocals. 93% pure analog. 100% Love! "Whatever the genre, my goal is to present music which is healing and uplifting." Born in Brooklyn New York, he studied classical music for 10 years in Philadelphia, but took a U turn in his studies in the mid- sixties and decided to pursue more popular music, learning by ear some of his favorites by such greats as Ramsey Lewis, The Beatles, McCoy Tyner and Quincy Jones. He dabbled in various R&B groups in Philadelphia but had all but given up on a musical career until a fateful meeting with John Lennon in the early 70's. Lennon urged him not to give up on his music, but Philadelphia had little to offer in the way of full time work, and after leaving the city and relocating to the Washington D.C area he decided, immediately upon the death of Lennon to quit his day job, putting all his energy into pursuing a career in music. Detailed Biographical Information: He attended Temple University in Philadelphia, where he formed The Last Musicians, an avante-garde group of poets, actors, and musicians who produced films, soundtracks, concerts, and appeared in radio programs for the university for two years. Walter found Philadelphia a difficult place to find steady work, especially since most of the music which he was writing at the time was what would probably be categorized today as “New Age Music.” He had all but given up on a musical career until a fateful meeting with John Lennon and Yoko Ono in the early 70's at the Drake Hotel in Philadelphia. After talking, drinks, and an impromptu jam session in the lounge John fervently urged him, “Don't give up on your music, man.” But it was a long road back, and he spent most of the 70's surviving by working various jobs: truck driver, taxi driver, construction worker, armed guard, and occasionally finding work on weekends with the local R&B bands. Walter eventually relocated to the Washington, D.C. area in 1979, and decided after the death of Lennon to put all of his energies into becoming a full time musician. “From the moment I made that decision, everything changed. Before that, I had been content to work a day job and gig at night, but now Lennon's words came back to haunt me. I realized that over 7 years had passed since the meeting and I still had not made a firm and complete commitment to my art, and had made no progress. It was time to make a choice. It was very scary to just up and quit my job, but little by little, positive things started happening to me.” During the early 1980's he performed as a lead vocalist, backup vocalist, and multi-keyboard player in a variety of Top 40, Rock, Soul, Reggae, and Jazz groups. In 1983 a talent scout saw him performing in a group, and invited him to become the regular entertainer at former Washington Redskins' quarterback Joe Theismann's Restaurant in Bailey's Crossroads Virginia. There he began his solo career and worked for two years, building up his repertoire, fans, and his confidence as an artist. He then moved on to the Washington, D.C. hotel circuit, first with a full time position entertaining at the Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza, a 5 Star hotel in Rockville, Maryland, and then at the Olde Towne Holiday Inn, in Alexandria, Virginia, and the Ramada Hotel in Oxon Hill Maryland, where he entertained for a period of three years. On October 3, 1986 he appeared at the Smithsonian Institute, Washington, D.C. in a noontime concert entitled “Portraits in Jazz” sponsored by the National Portrait Gallery of Washington. In 1989 a friend submitted one of Walter's tapes to Quincy Jones. Although Quincy was reportedly very excited about his fresh and original sound he was too busy with other projects to get involved with Walter, but sent the word back that he should get out of the hotel circuit, and do some traveling, preferably internationally in order to expand his horizons. “ I wasn't expecting to hear anything from Quincy. The fact that one of my idols had actually took the time to listen to my demo, that he liked it and had even offered some advice was a stupendous event to me. I immediately decided to make some international connections and see what would come of it.” And in November 1989, Walter decided to do just that and to try his luck on the road. After several trips to the Far East he settled in Japan. Why Japan? My interest in Japan started at a young age. In my pre-teens I studied judo from a Japanese sensei in Philadelphia. Then later in college I continued judo and also took up an interest in Japanese cooking and adopted their macrobiotic diet. So when the gig in Japan came up, I jumped at the chance to see this country. The Japanese audiences' level of sophistication, respect and knowledge of jazz here was a big surprise to me. The people have been very kind and supportive. Its peaceful, clean, safe and quiet here, and I love the food. Since 1992 it has been his base of operations, and between international engagements, he has worked there in Tokyo, Kobe, Osaka, and Fukuoka in various clubs, restaurants, and 4 star hotel's numerous dinner shows, concerts and special events . He frequently performs nightly at THE BAR in Osaka's Ritz Carlton Hotel. The warm and relaxing quality of his vocal intonation has enabled him to work in a variety of fields, including that of a narrator for Universal Studios, Japan, and Fujitec International. There was also a national television appearance by Mr. Clark on the popular “Ninki Mono” celebrity TV program in Japan. From 2000-2001 Clark also appeared in a TV commercial for Genova jewelry in Japan's Kobe/Osaka area. In the year 2001, in spite of a rigorous performing schedule, he produced and released two CD's which featured live and multitrack recordings. In February 2002 Clark appeared as an actor several times on NHK's TV series “Sono toki rekishi ga ugoita,” roughly translated as “This was a turning point in history.” It was also a turning point for Walter. After that TV project, Clark began to spend more time at home. The focus for the remainder of the year was on research and development of new songs, new techniques of recording, and personal growth. The 2002 year end release of Perfect Love was the product of the years efforts and rewards. It was also the first CD to feature Original songs, and the first CD to be marketed commercially. This biography was provided by the artist or their representative.
Read moreTags
Take Five With Walter Clark
by Walter Clark
Meet Walter Clark: It's in my DNA. Both of my grandparents on my mother's side were musicians. My grandmother had a degree in music from Spellman College and my grandfather, John McCoy, played multiple instruments and is the biological father of pianist McCoy Tyner. Music was a hobby, but after trying various trades and especially after the death of John Lennon, who encouraged me to continue after I had given up on music, I decided ...
Continue ReadingTake Five With Walter Clark
by AAJ Staff
Instrument(s): Piano, left-hand bass synth, synths, drum machine.Anecdote from the road: My last road trip was to northern Japan, the Kanazawa area from July 14-17, 2007. It was a series of wedding dates on the first two days and a showcase on the last day and it was a trip in every sense of the word.When I set out on Saturday morning there was a typhoon coming. So riding through that on the train was interesting, ...
Continue ReadingRelease: Night and Day Amazon From the United States Joseph M. Przygodzinski 5.0 out of 5 stars Very Nice Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2020 Verified Purchase Call me old fashioned, or just call me old. I just love these, very well arranged, tributes to the "easy music" of my life. What a difficult challenge Walter Clark accepted and confronted successfully. We all have our favorite versions of these tracks, versions we revere by other artists. His personal touch enhances, while still retaining the original familiarity of these old friends. Walter's music is everyone's music
Primary Instrument
Piano