Trials and travel have been a part of Jonathan’s life from a very early age. Jonathan was born the fourth of six children in Inglewood, CA. Although Jonathan was too young to remember his oldest brother, Christopher, passing away at age six, he was able to perceive the impression it left upon his family. After that, Jonathan moved frequently throughout his childhood--from one coast to the other, and just about everywhere in between.
Jonathan discovered music out of a need to be seen and heard. His oldest living brother, Matthew, played guitar and sang songs for the neighbor kids (girls), gaining the attention that Jonathan desired. He asked his folks for a guitar so he could share the attention with his rival sibling. “If you learn how to play everything that your brother can, we’ll know you’re serious and you can get a guitar,” his parents proposed.
Jonathan borrowed his brother’s guitar and locked himself in a room for the weekend. That’s all it took to prove he had talent. Jonathan’s other older brother, Daniel, took interest in the drums--banging on everything from coffee cans to cardboard boxes--at an early age. It was a band in the making. Matthew already played guitar, and Daniel was the drummer, so the only thing left to round out the band was a bass player.
Six months before his 15th birthday, Jonathan undertook the task and began teaching himself to play bass by listening to records. The band’s first professional gig was on Jonathan’s 15th birthday for a private party at Bower’s Mansion just outside of Reno, Nevada. The band showed promise and they were soon off and running playing casinos, parties, talent shows, and anywhere else they could find a gig.
The seven-member Clark family hit the road, and the next five years were spent traveling throughout the Pacific Northwest playing the Top-40 club scene. Upon returning to Southern California, the “Family Band” parted ways, and Jonathan began playing bass guitar with cover bands around the L.A. area. His talent and local recognition propelled him into bigger venues, where he began performing with artists such as Glenn Frey, Joe Walsh, Christopher Cross, Don Henley, Michael McDonald, Laura Brannigan, Peter Cetera, and Carlene Carter.
Aspiring to be more than a backup for fellow artists’ careers, Jonathan began pursuing his own dream: to be a successful singer/songwriter. He continued honing his unique mastery of the acoustic guitar and began acquiring more work as a vocalist, singing on the past nine Dwight Yoakam releases and touring with Yoakam.
Continually expanding his breadth of skills, Jonathan penned six songs for inclusion in several new movie releases—“Blind Side,” “Neowolf,” and “Who’s Your Monkey.” He has put his vocal stamp on numerous television and radio advertisements for brand products such as Coors, Coors Light, Fruit of the Loom, Coca Cola, and Kingsford Charcoal.
Jonathan’s early influences--The Eagles, James Taylor, Cat Stevens, Peter Gabriel, and Bad Company--have inspired his soulful, melodic songwriting style that has captured an ever expanding fan base in recent years. On his upcoming debut, Jonathan wrote and co-produced all songs (with his brother Daniel), as well as contributed vocals, guitar, bass, piano, and percussion to the tracks. “I’m Just Sayin,’” coupled with Jonathan’s first video (directed by Gary Oldman), will be available in Fall 2009 on Blue-C Records.
Website
Influences
The Eagles, James Taylor, Peter Gabriel, Cat Stevens, Bad Company
