Alan Clark (keyboardist)
Encyclopedia
Alan Clark is an English musician who was the first and main keyboardist
for the British
rock band
Dire Straits
.
Grammar School he played Hammond organ in working men's clubs. He continued his formal musical education at Durham Technical College and was offered a place at the Guildhall School of Music, but turned it down because by then he was already forging a successful career in music. He played and recorded with a group called Splinter, who were signed to George Harrison's Dark Horse label, and also Gallagher & Lyle, and did a tour of summer festivals with Lindisfarne
, which included Knebworth. He also appeared on a number of tracks of the Geordie
album No Good Woman.
Clark joined Dire Straits shortly before the release of Making Movies
in 1980, becoming their first and main keyboard player. His playing became an important element and transformed the band into the huge band they then became. While this is notable on their fourth album, Love Over Gold
in 1982, his style is also readily apparent on Dire Straits' live album Alchemy
, but perhaps his greatest contribution was on the hugely successful Brothers in Arms
album. Clark continued with Dire Straits, co-producing the following album, On Every Street
with Knopfler, until the band's eventual breakup in the mid-1990s.
In 1983 he contributed to Bob Dylan
's album Infidels
, which Mark Knopfler
co-produced, and he played on the following Empire Burlesque album. Clark also worked with Knopfler on some of his film soundtrack work, most notably on the film Local Hero
, in which he also makes a brief appearance as a piano player. He has also worked with Mark's brother David Knopfler
on his solo albums and toured and recorded extensively with Eric Clapton
as well as playing in the "Orchestra Nights" performances with the National Philharmonic Orchestra
and Michael Kamen
during the 24 Nights
concerts at the Royal Albert Hall
in 1990 and 1991. Throughout his time with Dire Straits, he was also Tina Turner's musical director, and played on and arranged her huge hit Private Dancer. Clark has also played and recorded with an eclectic range of other artists including the Bee Gees, Jimmy Nail, Escape Club, Joan Armatrading, Gerry Rafferty, Mick Hucknall, Bill Wyman, Sting, Van Morrison, Sly and Robbie, Shakin Stevens, Roger Daltry, George Harrison, Elton John, Phil Collins, Bruce Willis etc.
In 2001 Clark composed the music for the hit paranormal show Most Haunted
, and has composed many other themes for TV shows and radio commercials.
In 2005 he wrote and directed a film to commemorate 25years of the Great North Run, called The Inspiration, which was screened and performed live with the northern Philharmonic, at The Sage in Newcastle.
Later in November 2005, Clark was a member of the house band at "The Hull Story", a tribute to the music of Alan Hull
of Lindisfarne
. The concert, which took place at Newcastle City Hall
in aid of the Young Musicians Fund, is available on DVD. His Hammond playing features extensively throughout.
In 2010 Clark reunited with Dire Straits band members John Illsley and Chris White at the XRoads club in Rome, and has been recording and touring with German star Westernhagen, as well as writing and recording with many other artists at his state of the art studio, including up and coming star Jamie Squire.
Keyboardist
A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...
for the British
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
rock band
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
Dire Straits
Dire Straits
Dire Straits were a British rock band active from 1977 to 1995, composed of Mark Knopfler , his younger brother David Knopfler , John Illsley , and Pick Withers .Dire Straits' sound drew from a variety of musical influences, including jazz, folk, blues, and came closest...
.
Biography
As a young child Clark received piano lessons. Then whilst still a pupil at Chester-le-StreetChester-le-Street
Chester-le-Street is a town in County Durham, England. It has a history going back to Roman times when it was called Concangis. The town is located south of Newcastle upon Tyne and west of Sunderland on the River Wear...
Grammar School he played Hammond organ in working men's clubs. He continued his formal musical education at Durham Technical College and was offered a place at the Guildhall School of Music, but turned it down because by then he was already forging a successful career in music. He played and recorded with a group called Splinter, who were signed to George Harrison's Dark Horse label, and also Gallagher & Lyle, and did a tour of summer festivals with Lindisfarne
Lindisfarne (band)
Lindisfarne were a British folk/rock group from Newcastle upon Tyne established in 1970 and fronted by singer/songwriter Alan Hull. Their music combined a strong sense of yearning with an even stronger sense of fun...
, which included Knebworth. He also appeared on a number of tracks of the Geordie
Geordie (band)
Geordie were a British rock band from Newcastle upon Tyne, England, most notably active in the 1970s.-History:The original line-up included: Vic Malcolm , Tom Hill , Brian Gibson and Brian Johnson .Their...
album No Good Woman.
Clark joined Dire Straits shortly before the release of Making Movies
Making Movies
Making Movies is the third album by English rock band Dire Straits, released in 1980.- History :The title of the album comes from a line in the song "Skateaway" and the unreleased song "Making Movies". Rolling Stone ranked the album #52 in their survey of the "100 Best Albums of the 80s"...
in 1980, becoming their first and main keyboard player. His playing became an important element and transformed the band into the huge band they then became. While this is notable on their fourth album, Love Over Gold
Love over Gold
Love Over Gold is the fourth album by British rock band Dire Straits.- History :Due to its lengthy atmospheric instrumental passages, the album has been cited as the band's attempt at progressive rock....
in 1982, his style is also readily apparent on Dire Straits' live album Alchemy
Alchemy
Alchemy is an influential philosophical tradition whose early practitioners’ claims to profound powers were known from antiquity. The defining objectives of alchemy are varied; these include the creation of the fabled philosopher's stone possessing powers including the capability of turning base...
, but perhaps his greatest contribution was on the hugely successful Brothers in Arms
Brothers in Arms (Dire Straits album)
- Original LP track listing :- 2005 Re-Issue 2 LP track listing :The 2005 Limited Edition Deluxe 180 gram High Performance Vinyl reissue contained the full-length versions of all songs by spreading out the songs over two half speed mastered LPs....
album. Clark continued with Dire Straits, co-producing the following album, On Every Street
On Every Street
On Every Street is the sixth and final studio album by British rock band Dire Straits, released in 1991 . It made #1 on the UK Albums Chart.-History:...
with Knopfler, until the band's eventual breakup in the mid-1990s.
In 1983 he contributed to Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
's album Infidels
Infidels
Infidels is singer-songwriter Bob Dylan's 22nd studio album, released by Columbia Records in October 1983.Produced by Mark Knopfler and Dylan himself, Infidels is seen as his return to secular music, following a conversion to Christianity and three evangelical, gospel records...
, which Mark Knopfler
Mark Knopfler
Mark Freuder Knopfler, OBE is a Scottish-born British guitarist, singer, songwriter, record producer and film score composer. He is best known as the lead guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for the British rock band Dire Straits, which he co-founded in 1977...
co-produced, and he played on the following Empire Burlesque album. Clark also worked with Knopfler on some of his film soundtrack work, most notably on the film Local Hero
Local Hero
Local Hero is a 1983 Scottish comedy-drama film starring Peter Riegert and Burt Lancaster. It was directed by Bill Forsyth and produced by David Puttnam....
, in which he also makes a brief appearance as a piano player. He has also worked with Mark's brother David Knopfler
David Knopfler
David Knopfler is a British singer-songwriter, rhythm guitarist, pianist and cofounder of the critically acclaimed rock band Dire Straits....
on his solo albums and toured and recorded extensively with Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
as well as playing in the "Orchestra Nights" performances with the National Philharmonic Orchestra
National Philharmonic Orchestra
The National Philharmonic Orchestra was a British orchestra created exclusively for recording purposes. It was founded by RCA producer Charles Gerhardt and orchestra leader / contractor Sidney Sax due in part to the requirements of the Reader's Digest-History:...
and Michael Kamen
Michael Kamen
Michael Arnold Kamen was an American composer , orchestral arranger, orchestral conductor, song writer, and session musician.-Background:...
during the 24 Nights
24 Nights
24 Nights is a live album by Eric Clapton, recorded at the Royal Albert Hall in London, England in 1990 and 1991. It was released on October 8, 1991. The album is a "best of" from the 42 concerts Eric Clapton did at the Royal Albert Hall in those two years...
concerts at the Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
in 1990 and 1991. Throughout his time with Dire Straits, he was also Tina Turner's musical director, and played on and arranged her huge hit Private Dancer. Clark has also played and recorded with an eclectic range of other artists including the Bee Gees, Jimmy Nail, Escape Club, Joan Armatrading, Gerry Rafferty, Mick Hucknall, Bill Wyman, Sting, Van Morrison, Sly and Robbie, Shakin Stevens, Roger Daltry, George Harrison, Elton John, Phil Collins, Bruce Willis etc.
In 2001 Clark composed the music for the hit paranormal show Most Haunted
Most Haunted
Most Haunted is a British paranormal documentary reality television series. The series was first shown on 25 May 2002 and ended on 21 July 2010. It was broadcast on Living and presented by Yvette Fielding. The programme was based on investigating purported paranormal activity...
, and has composed many other themes for TV shows and radio commercials.
In 2005 he wrote and directed a film to commemorate 25years of the Great North Run, called The Inspiration, which was screened and performed live with the northern Philharmonic, at The Sage in Newcastle.
Later in November 2005, Clark was a member of the house band at "The Hull Story", a tribute to the music of Alan Hull
Alan Hull
Alan Hull was an English singer-songwriter and founding member of the Tyneside folk rock band, Lindisfarne.-Career:...
of Lindisfarne
Lindisfarne (band)
Lindisfarne were a British folk/rock group from Newcastle upon Tyne established in 1970 and fronted by singer/songwriter Alan Hull. Their music combined a strong sense of yearning with an even stronger sense of fun...
. The concert, which took place at Newcastle City Hall
Newcastle City Hall
Newcastle City Hall is a concert hall, located in Newcastle upon Tyne which has hosted many popular music and classical artists throughout the years, as well as standup and comedy acts. Opened in 1927, the City Hall was built as a part of a development which also included the adjacent City Pool...
in aid of the Young Musicians Fund, is available on DVD. His Hammond playing features extensively throughout.
In 2010 Clark reunited with Dire Straits band members John Illsley and Chris White at the XRoads club in Rome, and has been recording and touring with German star Westernhagen, as well as writing and recording with many other artists at his state of the art studio, including up and coming star Jamie Squire.
External links
- The Hull Story information from www.lindisfarne.co.uk