Gene Clark

As chief songwriter of The Byrds, Gene Clark helped craft the jangly, dreamy, West Coast folk rock sound of the 1960s, but endured a tumultuous solo career troubled by addiction, health and mental problems and died aged only 46 in 1991. Growing up in Kansas City, Missouri, Clark started learning the guitar at the age of nine from his bluegrass-playing father and, inspired by the likes of Elvis Presley and Hank Williams, began performing with high school band Rum Runners in his teens. With the gentle, clean-cut folk music of The Kingston Trio and The Weavers the popular trend of the day, Clark moved to Los Angeles to play with The New Christy Minstrels in 1963 but, with the arrival of The Beatles and the British invasion bands, musical parameters quickly changed and Clark teamed up with Roger McGuinn to write 'You Showed Me' (later a hit for The Turtles) and, in 1964, form The Byrds. Their groundbreaking brand of psychedelic-rock would prove hugely influential, with Clark's early songs 'I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better', 'Set You Free This Time' and 'Eight Miles High' becoming classic anthems of the era, but a fear of flying and fall-outs over money led to his early departure from the group. Backed by the Gosdin Brothers, his 1967 self-titled debut solo album sought to blend his bluegrass roots into a hazy country-rock mix and was well received by critics at the time. But commercial success eluded him and follow-ups 'White Light' and 'Roadmaster' were released in Europe but not in America until decades later. He successfully re-joined The Byrds for their final album in 1972, but his fourth solo record 'No Other' was deemed a flop, despite later becoming recognised as a cult classic and adored by the likes of Fleet Foxes, Beach House and Grizzly Bear. A shy, troubled character who was plagued by an undiagnosed bi-polar disorder, his heavy use of drugs and alcohol caused him painful ulcers, but he did go on to work as a duo with Doug Dillard and as a trio with Roger McGuinn and Chris Hillman and he had late career success in 1987 when he recorded duets album 'So Rebellious a Lover' with Carla Olsen. His 1977 album 'Two Sides to Every Story' featuring Emmylou Harris stands out as another high point and he joined The Byrds for their induction ceremony into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1991. But, after being diagnosed with throat cancer, Clark indulged in one final drinking session and was found dead on his living room floor by his bass player later the same year.

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