Guy Clark

• Genre: Country-Folk
• Hometown: Monahans
• Guy Clark Website

About

Guy Clark has been sculpting songs out of pure pastoral soul and warm vocals since 1975. His songs are masterworks meticulously crafted with all the patience and detail of a boatmaker (check out the chiseled arrangement on "Boats to Build"). Clark was raised by his grandmother in the West Texas town of Monahans and began writing and singing many of his songs in Spanish. He later moved to Texas and befriended the late, great Townes Van Zandt, who influenced his bluesy, folk style of Americana and country music. Clark is the kind of songwriter that musicians and music lovers understand and admire, while radio programmers just seem to scratch their head and look for the next Billy Ray Cyrus hit to play. Friend Jerry Jeff Walker had a hit with Clark's "L.A. Freeway," a sort of anti-West Coast anthem that he is best known for. Other country artists to cover Clark's songs include George Strait, Johnny Cash, The Highwaymen, David Allen Coe, Vince Gill, and Ricky Skaggs (who had a number one hit with "Heartbroke").

- Eric Shea