[Mark Yacavone]

In memory of Gene Clark
JOHN EINARSON remembers Gene Clark:
On this date, May 24, 1991, Gene Clark, founder member principal songwriter of The Byrds, died of a heart attack aged 46. Clark wrote many of The Byrds best-known original songs including "I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better", "She Don't Care About Time" and "Eight Miles High". Clark had been a member of the New Christy Minstrels before forming The Byrds. He left The Byrds in early 1966, going on to play a major role in the development of country rock both as a solo artist and a member of The Fantastic Expedition of Dillard and Clark. His 1974 solo album No Other remains his high water mark and a creative masterpiece. Clark was also a member of the short lived trio McGuinn, Clark & Hillman. Although he did not achieve commercial success as a solo artist, Clark was in the vanguard of popular music during much of his career, prefiguring developments in such disparate subgenres as psychedelic rock, baroque pop, newgrass, country rock, and alternative country.
Born on November 17, 1944 in Tipton, Missouri, Harold Eugene 'Gene' Clark was the third of 13 children".
On August 12, 1963, Clark was discovered in a Kansas City nightclub by members of the New Christy Minstrels. They hired him on the spot and he left on tour with them the next day. Clark recorded two albums with the ensemble before leaving in early 1964. After hearing the Beatles, Clark quit the New Christy Minstrels and moved to Los Angeles where he met fellow folkie and Beatles convert Jim (later Roger) McGuinn at the Troubadour Club. In early 1964 the two along with another ex-folkie David Crosby began to assemble a band that would become the Byrds. In June 1965, The Byrds scored a worldwide hit with an electric jingle jangle cover of Bob Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man". He initially played rhythm guitar in the band, but relinquished that position to David Crosby and became the tambourine player.
Bassist Chris Hillman noted years later in an interview remembering Clark, "At one time, he was the power in the Byrds, not McGuinn, not Crosby—it was Gene who would burst through the stage curtain banging on a tambourine, coming on like a young Prince Valiant. A hero, our savior. Few in the audience could take their eyes off this presence. He was the songwriter. He had the 'gift' that none of the rest of us had developed yet.... What deep inner part of his soul conjured up songs like 'Set You Free This Time,' 'I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better,' 'I'm Feelin' Higher,' 'Eight Miles High'? So many great songs! We learned a lot of songwriting from him and in the process learned a little bit about ourselves."
Clark abruptly quit The Byrds in early 1966, the result of internal conflicts and jealousies within the band, a growing discomfort with flying, and a discomfort with the adulation heaped on him and the group members. His debut solo album, released in early 1967 offered a glimpse into where Clark's music had been (pop/folk rock) and where it would soon go (country rock). In 1968 he formed The Fantastic Expedition of Dillard & Clark, an early country rock outfit with banjo player Douglas Dillard and future Burrito and Eagle Bernie Leadon, released two critically acclaimed albums.
By 1971 Clark was a solo artist and over the next decade would release further critically-acclaimed yet commercially unsuccessful albums including White Light and is magnum opus No Other. He also took part in an album by the original five Byrds with Clark drawing the critical attention for his strong contributions. He would go on to front FireByrd as well as a Byrds tribute group. Clark teamed up with young Texas-born singer/songwriter Carla Olsen for two albums, So Rebellious A Lover and a live album, both often cited as early steps at what would become alternate country. Again, Clark continued to earn critical praise and limited sales. He teamed up again in McGuinn, Clark & Hillman for a couple of albums that found the three working within a more contemporary rock sound.
On January 16, 1991, the five original members of the Byrds put aside their differences to appear together at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City for their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The band came together on stage to perform the songs "Turn! Turn! Turn! (to Everything There Is a Season)", "Mr. Tambourine Man", and "I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better".
After decades of alcohol and drug abuse believed to be prompted by an undiagnosed bipolar syndrome, Clark's health continued to decline. He died on May 24, 1991, at the age of 46 of heart failure brought on by a bleeding ulcer.
Clark's legacy remains strong with more than a dozen recording artist including Tom Petty.