Gene Clark was a singer, guitarist, and songwriter who contributed his remarkable talents as a founding member of one of the great bands of the rock era – The Byrds. He is not as well-known as fellow Byrds Roger McGuinn or David Crosby, and that is unfortunate. Clark was an extraordinary singer and songwriter; a master of his craft, and an enduring voice in the history of popular music.With the addition of bassist Chris Hillman and drummer Michael Clarke, the Byrds were signed to Columbia Records and went into the studio with producer Terry Melcher. The first single was to be Bob Dylan's Mr. Tambourine Man backed with the Clark original I Knew I'd Want You, with the album Mr. Tambourine Man soon to follow.
Clark wrote five of the twelve songs on that album, including I Knew I'd Want You, and I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better. Both songs were 'B' sides of the first two Byrds singles, with his She Don't Care About Time appearing on the next single with the Byrds second huge hit, Turn! Turn! Turn! (also the title of their second album.) The album, released in December 1965, contained three Clark songs, Set You Free This Time, (also placed on the next two singles, once as the 'A' side, and then as the 'B') The World Turns All Around Her, and If You're Gone.
The sixth Byrds single featured another major Clark-written song, Eight Miles High, a cut from the third album, Fifth Dimension, but Clark quit the Byrds before the album was completed. The Byrds management were making decisions regarding lead vocal duties that often put McGuinn in front, relegating Clark to harmonies, leading to Clark's disillusionment. Listening to recordings of Clark on lead vocals is proof to me that he was a far better singer and should have been featured more often in the Byrds. To me, this is especially evident on his solo version of Mr. Tambourine Man, recorded in 1984. Lack of appreciation for his vocal abilities, along with his reported fear of flying and clashing personalities, led him to leave the Byrds in early 1966.
He went solo with the backing of the Gosdin Brothers, and then tried another brief stint with the Byrds. In 1968, Clark joined banjo player Doug Dillard, performing as Dillard and Clark, releasing one excellent album (along with later Eagle Bernie Leadon, former Byrd Chris Hillman, and others.) Clark and Dillard worked well together, with Clark writing or co-writing eight of the nine songs on their first record, The Fantastic Expedition of Dillard & Clark, a smooth, cohesive country rock album that should have been a big hit. Clark, however, refused to tour, causing album sales to stall. Their second effort, Through the Morning, Through the Night, was a disappointment, containing only four Clark tunes with seven cover songs. The lack of original material doomed the record, and Clark left the band shortly after the album's release.
Clark continued performing, including several attempts to put the Byrds back together, but he never again approached the level of success or fame he had with the Byrds.
Health, alcohol, and drug problems plagued Clark in the 1980's, leading to his death in May 1991 at only 46 years old. Gene Clark was an exceptionally talented singer/songwriter who never really received the credit he was due as an important figure in rock history.
Larry Manch is an author, teacher, guitar player, freelance writer, and columnist. His books include: 'Twisted Logic: 50 Edgy Flash Fiction Stories', 'The Toughest Hundred Dollars & Other Rock & Roll Stories','A Sports Junkie', 'The Avery Appointment', 'Between the Fuzzy Parts', and 'Jonathan Stephens Is Just A Kid'. His books are available in paperback and e-book.
He writes about sports for Season Tickets, food and travel on Miles & Meals, and music/guitars on The Backbeat.
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