Musician’s Corner Feature – Michael “Junior” Clark
MIKE “JUNIOR” CLARK 443 – 248 – 0615 pctex58@gmail.com
With over 30 years of experiences as a musician and performer, Mike “Junior” Clark has shared the stage and performed with some of The Greats, of both Blues and Rock. Considered a Guitar Play- er’s, Guitar Player, with a soulful voice to match he has recorded studio projects with Bugs Hender- son, Johnny Winter, Jimmie Vaughn, and Steve Lukather.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
VOTED TEXAS TORNADO AWARD
Junior drew notice soon after coming on the scene and in 1983 Buddy Magazine honored him with the Texas Tornado Award for guitar, a gifted award that includes some of Texas best musicians like Stevie Ray Vaughn, Billy Gibbons, Jimmy Vaughn, Bugs Henderson and many more.
WON BEST ROCK AND BLUES BAND
While a member of Turnabout, both The Dallas Morning News and The Dallas Observer recog- nized Turnabout as Top Rock and Blues Band.
In 1984 Junior helped form The Stratoblasters with Bugs Henderson and Jimmy Wallace. The Stra- toblasters were voted Best Blues Act by The Dallas Observer. They also toured with Johnny Win- ter and the Fabulous Thunderbirds. The second generation of the Stratoblasters released two CD’s, worked with Greg Allman, and were asked to play a private party for Mick Jagger.
As part of Station One, an all original band based in Dallas, they had three of their original songs on regular rotation at both local FM rock stations. Due to their popularity this AOB opened shows for national acts and toured regionally.
Discouraged with the direction in which the local music scene was evolving, Junior quit playing in 1996 and focused on raising his young kids and using his abilities and experience in the musical field in a career that allowed him to to travel extensively from coast to coast, all the while studying the multitudes of guitars and their specific ?
Attributes which carried over into all genres of music, nationally and internationally. He had always been enamored with amplifiers and now was able to use his experience as an actual playing artist to contribute to the creating of amps for such a wide range of musicians from John Mayer to the Pixies
In 2010, Junior, at the urging of both friends and fans, picked up the guitar again.
At the Dallas International Guitar Show he played with Bugs Henderson, Jimmy Wallace, and his new band, The Journeymen.
Junior continues to play, teach and is working on a solo CD which he plans on re- leasing in 2017. He especially “enjoys” reuniting and jamming with different players from the past and also playing with younger artists who seek him out to ask questions about Juniors’ unique style.
He is avid promoter of making the public and younger players aware of the great Texas style players and writers we are losing each year , and how they have influenced the artists who will continue to play into the future.
It is difficult to sum up Junior’s “style” of music when there are so many artists who have influenced him: Freddie King, Bugs Henderson, JJ Cale, allman Brothers and Peter Green, Even though you might find it difficult to tag him with one particular “style” But, you won’t forget his dynamic guitar playing and powerful singing voice once you hear Junior Clark on stage.