June Clark (musician)
Encyclopedia
Algeria Junius "June" Clark (March 24, 1900, Long Branch, New Jersey
– February 23, 1963, New York City
) was an American jazz
trumpeter and cornet
ist.
Clark, a native of Long Branch, played piano as a child, then took up bugle and trumpet, playing in local brass band
s. He took a job as a porter
in New Orleans, then played in a musical revue called S.H. Dudley's Black Sensations, where he played with James P. Johnson
. Clark and Johnson parted from the show to play on their own, landing in Toledo, Ohio
and playing with Jimmy Harrison
late in the 1910s. In 1920 Clark relocated to Philadelphia, where he played with Josephine Stevens and Willie "The Lion" Smith (1921-22). He then played in the traveling show Holiday in Dixie, but this enterprise collapsed in Detroit after a poor run, and Clark temporarily took up work in an automobile factory. He rejoined Harrison soon after as a member of the Fess Williams
Band.
By 1924 Clark was in New York City
, playing with his own band in various nightclub
s and other venues in the city. He played with Ferman Tapp, Jimmy Reynolds
(1933-35), George Baquet
, Charlie Skeete, and Vance Dixon in the 1930s, but failing health led him to quit music to act as Louis Armstrong
's tour manager. He suffered from an extended bout of tuberculosis
in 1939, and was bedridden for several years. After his recovery he worked as a musical advisor and assisted Earl Hines
. Later in the 1940s he gave up music for boxing
, and went on to become Sugar Ray Robinson
's manager.
Long Branch, New Jersey
Long Branch is a city in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 30,719.Long Branch was formed on April 11, 1867, as the Long Branch Commission, from portions of Ocean Township...
– February 23, 1963, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
) was an American jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
trumpeter and cornet
Cornet
The cornet is a brass instrument very similar to the trumpet, distinguished by its conical bore, compact shape, and mellower tone quality. The most common cornet is a transposing instrument in B. It is not related to the renaissance and early baroque cornett or cornetto.-History:The cornet was...
ist.
Clark, a native of Long Branch, played piano as a child, then took up bugle and trumpet, playing in local brass band
Brass band
A brass band is a musical ensemble generally consisting entirely of brass instruments, most often with a percussion section. Ensembles that include brass and woodwind instruments can in certain traditions also be termed brass bands , but are usually more correctly termed military bands, concert...
s. He took a job as a porter
Porter (carrier)
A porter, also called a bearer, is a person who shifts objects for others.-Historical meaning:Human adaptability and flexibility early led to the use of humans for shifting gear...
in New Orleans, then played in a musical revue called S.H. Dudley's Black Sensations, where he played with James P. Johnson
James P. Johnson
James P. Johnson was an American pianist and composer...
. Clark and Johnson parted from the show to play on their own, landing in Toledo, Ohio
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
and playing with Jimmy Harrison
Jimmy Harrison
Jimmy Harrison was an American jazz trombonist.Harrison began on trombone at age 15, playing locally in the Toledo, Ohio area...
late in the 1910s. In 1920 Clark relocated to Philadelphia, where he played with Josephine Stevens and Willie "The Lion" Smith (1921-22). He then played in the traveling show Holiday in Dixie, but this enterprise collapsed in Detroit after a poor run, and Clark temporarily took up work in an automobile factory. He rejoined Harrison soon after as a member of the Fess Williams
Fess Williams
Stanley Williams was an American jazz musician.-Early life:...
Band.
By 1924 Clark was in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, playing with his own band in various nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
s and other venues in the city. He played with Ferman Tapp, Jimmy Reynolds
Jimmy Reynolds
James Russel "Jimmy" Reynolds was an American jazz pianist.Reynolds led his own band at the Hollywood Cafe in New York City in the 1930s and 1940s, though he rarely recorded with this ensemble...
(1933-35), George Baquet
George Baquet
George Baquet was an American jazz clarinetist, known for his contributions to early jazz in New Orleans.His father, Theogene Baquet, was also a clarinetist, as were his brothers, Achille and Harold...
, Charlie Skeete, and Vance Dixon in the 1930s, but failing health led him to quit music to act as Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong , nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana....
's tour manager. He suffered from an extended bout of tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
in 1939, and was bedridden for several years. After his recovery he worked as a musical advisor and assisted Earl Hines
Earl Hines
Earl Kenneth Hines, universally known as Earl "Fatha" Hines, was an American jazz pianist. Hines was one of the most influential figures in the development of modern jazz piano and, according to one source, is "one of a small number of pianists whose playing shaped the history of jazz".-Early...
. Later in the 1940s he gave up music for boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
, and went on to become Sugar Ray Robinson
Sugar Ray Robinson
Sugar Ray Robinson was an African-American professional boxer. Frequently cited as the greatest boxer of all time, Robinson's performances in the welterweight and middleweight divisions prompted sportswriters to create "pound for pound" rankings, where they compared fighters regardless of weight...
's manager.
Sources
- [ June Clark] at Allmusic
- Leonard FeatherLeonard FeatherLeonard Geoffrey Feather was a British-born jazz pianist, composer, and producer who was best known for his music journalism and other writing.-Biography:...
and Ira GitlerIra GitlerIra Gitler is an American jazz historian and journalist. Perhaps best known for The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz written with Leonard Feather—the most recent edition appeared in 1999—he has written hundreds of liner notes for jazz recordings since the early 1950s and is the author of dozens...
, The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz. Oxford, 1999, pp. 129-130.