About Gary Clark Jr
Musical Career
Gary Clark Jr. began playing guitar at the age of twelve. Born and raised in Austin, Clark played small gigs throughout his teens, until he met promoter Clifford Antone, proprietor of the Austin music club Antone’s. Antone’s was the launch pad from which Stevie Ray and Jimmie Vaughan redefined rock at the time. Soon after meeting Clifford, Clark began to play with an array of musical icons, including Jimmie Vaughan. Vaughan and others in the Austin music community helped Clark along his musical path, facilitating his ascent in the Texas rock & roll scene. Clark’s music demonstrates how the blues have shaped virtually every medium of music over the past century, from hip-hop to country.
Rolling Stone declared Clark “Best Young Gun” in its April 2011, “Best of Rock” issue.
Clark sang on the bonus track cover of “I Want You Back” by the Jackson 5 on Sheryl Crow’s album 100 Miles from Memphis.
More recently, Clark recorded with Alicia Keys on two different songs in New York, NY.
On August 28, 2012, Alicia Keys revealed via Twitter that Clark’s new album and major-label debut called Blak and Blu would be released on October 22, 2012. Later that day, the news appeared on Clark’s official website.
Live appearances
Clark performed at the 2010 Crossroads Guitar Festival alongside B.B. King, Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, Steve Winwood, John Mayer, Sheryl Crow, Jeff Beck, and ZZ Top. He joined Doyle Bramhall II and Sheryl Crow on stage for their performance with Eric Clapton, and also debuted several original songs.
In June 2011, Clark played at the annual Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, Tennessee, at the Miller Lite On Tap Lounge. On June 10, 2012, Clark again played at Bonnaroo, and his performance was streamed live online via the Bonnaroo MusicFest Channel on YouTube.
In February 2012, Clark performed alongside blues legends at the Red, White and Blues event at the White House. The event, aired on PBS, also included B.B. King, Mick Jagger, Jeff Beck and Buddy Guy, among others. Clark played “Catfish Blues” and “In the Evening (When the Sun Goes Down)”, as well as contributing to performances of “Let the Good Times Roll”, “Beat Up Old Guitar”, “Five Long Years” and “Sweet Home Chicago”.
In June 2012, Clark guested with the Dave Matthews Band playing “Can’t Stop” and All Along the Watchtower at dates in Virginia Beach and Indianapolis.
On October 21 and 22, 2012, Clark appeared as the opening act at the Bridge School Benefit Concert, Bridge XXVI.
On December 8, 2012, Clark appeared at The Rolling Stones’ first US-gig of their 50th anniversary tour at the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn, NY to perform the Don Nix song “Going Down” with the band. On December 15, 2012 he joined them onstage again to play the same song, along with John Mayer, during the last date of the Stones’ mini-tour at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ.
On June 12, 2013, Clark was the guest performer with the Rolling Stones at Boston’s TD Garden. Clark joined the Stones in playing the Freddie King tune ‘Going Down’.
On June 30, 2013, Clark appeared on the Avalon stage at the Glastonbury Festival. His performance was declared ‘the most electric performance of the festival, knocking the legendary appearance of The Rolling Stones (the previous night) well into second place’.