Buddy Clark

Buddy Clark (July 10, 1929—June 8, 1999) was an American jazz bassist and arranger.

He worked with many famed jazz musicians of the time, including Bud Freeman, Bill Russo, Tex Beneke, Les Brown, Peggy Lee, Red Norvo, Dave Pell, Jimmy Giuffre, and Gerry Mulligan.

Clark was also the founder of a Charlie Parker tribute band named Supersax.

Buddy Clark was born Walter Clark Jr. in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on July 10, 1929.

Clark got an early start in music and learned piano and trombone at a young age. In high school, he learned double bass and chose it as his instrument of choice.

He formally studied music at the Chicago Musical College in 1948-49.

After completing his education, Clark began his professional music career in the bands of Bud Freeman and Bill Russo in the early 1950s.

From 1951 to 1954, he toured with saxophonist/vocalist Tex Beneke Orchestra and made a few recordings on Decca with clarinetist Wilbur "Willie" Schwartz, saxophonist Gene Allen, trumpeter Ed Zandy, trombonist Paul Tanner, drummer Alvin Stoller, and guitarist Al Hendrickson.

In 1954, Clark moved to Los Angeles, California, and began working with Les Brownand his Band of Renown. In 1955, he played string bass on Brown's recordings of "Somebody else is taking my place" and "Cherry" alongside Donn Trenner (piano); Butch Stone, Dave Pell, and Abe Aaron (saxophone); Ronnie Lang (flute); Don Fagerquist (trumpet); Bobby Pring, Ray Sims, and Stumpy Brown (trombone). In 1955/56, he toured with the band.

In 1955, Clark joined the bop and cool jazz trumpeter Conte Candoli's band "The Five" with saxophonist Bill Perkins, drummer Mel Lewis, and pianist Pete Jolly. With The Five, he recorded Los Cinco on RCA Records in 1956 (arranged by Shorty Rogers).

While in California, he also worked with Bob Brookmeyer, Kenny Drew, and singer/actress Peggy Lee.

In 1956, Clark recorded with Sonny Criss. He played bass on Criss' album Sonny Criss Plays Cole Porter with drummer Larance Marable, pianist Sonny Clark, and vibraphonist Larry Bunker. The following year, with John Graas, he recorded Jazz Lab 2, accompanied by Curtis Counce, Paul Chambers (bass); Larry Bunker and Philly Joe Jones (drums); Howard Roberts (guitar); Claude Williamson, Paul Moer, and Gerald Wiggins (piano); Dave Pell, Jimmy Giuffre, and Jack Montrose (saxophone); Don Fagerquist (trumpet); and Kenneth "Red" Norvo (vibraphone).

Also in 1957, he played bass on Joanne Grauer's album Joanne Grauer Trio with Mel Lewis.

In 1958, Clark performed with Med flory's band at the Monterey Jazz Festival in Monterey, California, and the following year, he went with Jimmy Giuffre on a European tour.

In the early 1960s, Clark worked with Gerry Mulligan & The Concert Jazz Band. After this, he worked mostly as a studio musician for many years.

In 1972, Clark founded a Charlie Parker tribute band named Supersax with Med Flory. Brass soloists who recorded with the group included trumpeter Conte Candoli, trombonist Frank Rosolino, and trombonist Carl Fontana. Supersax won the Grammy Award for Best Jazz Performance by a Group in 1974. In 1973, the band released Supersax Plays Bird, which included Dizzy Gillespie's compositions of "A Night in Tunisia", "Ko-Ko", and "Lover Man". The same year, the band performed on the NBC television show The Merv Griffin Show.

Clark left Supersax in late 1975 and worked as a studio musician after that for a bit. However, following an accident that made him lose the use of his hand effectively, he withdrew from playing music in 1976.

In his career, Clark also worked on recordings of Terry Gibbs, Johnny Hodges, Barney Kessel, Herbie Mann, Gerry Mulligan, Lennie Niehaus, Anita O'Day, and Sonny Stitt.

• 1955: Pete Jolly: Duo, Threesome, Quartet, RCA Records NL-45991
• 1955: Pete Jolly: The Five, RCA Records LPM-1121
• 1956: Marty Paich: The Marty Paich Quartet Featuring Art Pepper, Tampa Records
• 1957: Jack Montrose Quintet: Blues and Vanilla, RCA Records LPM-1451
• 1957: Herbie Mann & Buddy Collette: Flute Fraternity, MOD-LP Records Mode #114
• 1958: Shorty Rogers and His Giants: Gigi in Jazz, RCA Records LPM-1696
• 1959: Jack Sheldon: Jack's Groove, GNP Records GNP 60
• 1959: Lee Konitz, Jimmy Giuffre: Lee Konitz Meets Jimmy Giuffre, Verve Records MGV 8335
• 1959: Gerry Mulligan Meet Johnny Hodges, Verve Records MGV 8367

Clark died in San Fernando Valley, California, on June 8, 1999, at age 69.