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Topic: Bruce Clarke has passed away |
Graham Griffith
From:
Tempe, N.S.W., Australia
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Posted 12 Aug 2008 4:55 pm |
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This may be in the wrong section but I'm not sure that you are aware that Bruce Clarke has passed away. From the Wikipedia:
From 1949-1956 Clarke worked as a freelance guitarist-arranger among the many live radio orchestras. He accompanied overseas artists on their Australian concert tours and played in the dance halls and ballrooms that were the mainstay of pre-television social life.
In 1956, television arrived in Australia and brought this era to a close. Bruce moved into film and television music production and composition. He established his own studios and production company The Jingle Workshop in 1957. He wrote and directed over 3000 television and film soundtracks for local and overseas producers between 1957 and 1974, some including vocalist Helen Reddy. As well as guitar he made extensive use of electronics, including the Moog synthesizer.
During this period he continued to perform. He accepted a commission to realise the first major Australian electronic work for the 1968 Adelaide Arts Festival, and conducted performances in Melbourne of works by 20th century composers Stockhausen, Berio and Webern. He toured Europe as guitarist with composer Felix Werder's Australia Felix Ensemble. He also appeared with the ABC orchestras under the batons of Sir John Barbirolli, Charles Mackerras, John Hopkins and others. In 1981 he played second guitar to John Williams with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in Andre Previn's "Concerto For Guitar And Orchestra".
In 1974 Bruce moved into the realm of teaching. Phasing out his commercial activities he accepted a position on the music board of the Australia Council and became Kenneth Myer Music Fellow to the Victoria Institute of Colleges - two positions which made him very aware of the need for more realistic approaches to the problems of students wishing to find a role in the world of "non-classical" music. With this in mind, in 1977 he instigated the Jazz Studies program at the Victorian College Of The Arts, followed by the establishment of his "Guitar Workshop". In subsequent years he hosted many teaching clinics with visiting "guitar greats" including Joe Pass, Ike Isaacs, Ted Dunbar, Barney Kessel, Herb Ellis, Charlie Byrd, Martin Taylor, Emily Remler, and George Golla.
His past guitar students include Mick Harvey, Robert Goodge (of I'm Talking), Pierre Jaquinot and Anne McCue.
Clarke also founded Cumquat Records to issue recordings of Australian Jazz from the 1950s onwards. From his catalogue of recorded works the author quotes his collaboration with George Golla on "In Memory Of Charlie Christian" (aka "Soft Winds" CQCD-2712) as his favorite to date.
He died on Thursday the 24th of July, 2008
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 12 Aug 2008 5:11 pm
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This is incredibly sad news. Thank you, Bruce, for all you've done.
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 12 Aug 2008 5:13 pm Aloha, Bruce
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Just the work he did in gathering and releasing the old Hawaiian product on CD over the last decade puts him in some kind of Hall Of Fame.
He was much more than Cumquat and this is a huge loss for the steel and audio community.
What a shame, but he leaves a sizeable legacy.
He done good! |
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John Bushouse
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Posted 12 Aug 2008 6:47 pm
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| That is truly sad. Yes, Bruce belongs in the Preserving and Sharing Hawaiian Steel Guitar Music Hall of Fame. |
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Jeff Strouse
From:
Jacksonville, Florida, USA
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Posted 12 Aug 2008 6:49 pm
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If it were not for him, some of the greatest music ever made would have never been heard again. Some of it is unreleased material, so it wasn't even heard back then.
Bruce was such a great guy. I have some letters and a talk tape from him that I will always treasure. My heart is heavy tonight..
Aloha, Bruce...
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Rick Aiello
From:
Berryville, VA USA
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Gerald Ross
From:
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Posted 13 Aug 2008 7:37 am
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Bruce single-handedly rescued, documented and made easily available the most important Hawaiian music recordings of the early 20th century.
If it wasn't for his efforts this music would have been lost forever.
He will be missed.
_________________
Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'
A UkeTone Recording Artist
CEO, CIO, CFO - UkeTone Records
Gerald's Hawaiian Steel Guitar/Ukulele Website |
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Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 13 Aug 2008 8:47 am
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That is a real shame. I never met the man, but I have certainly appreciated his work.
_________________
Brad’s Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars |
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Rick Aiello
From:
Berryville, VA USA
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 14 Aug 2008 3:10 am
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| I was afraid this was going to be the outcome. Bruce did so much for steel guitar AND jazz guitar. He was due to receive the Australian equivalent of a knighthood this month. So sad. |
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George Rout
From:
St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
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Posted 14 Aug 2008 6:40 pm
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Hello Graham and thank you for the sad news. Gosh, I was just speaking to Bruce less than a month ago, he was apologizing for some tardiness in getting out the latest shipment of CD's which I had ordered, due to a fall down the stairs.
Like all who have noted on this thread before me, I can't believe that a man could accomplish so much through sheer interest.
My sympathy goes out to his family.
George Rout
_________________
http://georgerout.com
"I play in the A Major tuning. It's fun to learn and so easy to play. It's as old as the hills....like me" |
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George Keoki Lake
From:
Edmonton, AB., Canada
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Posted 17 Aug 2008 2:09 pm
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Sadly, I corresponded with Bruce only once and received a cherished taped reply. He was an amazing musician who played with the greatest in the biz.
We, of the old school Hawaiian guitarists are forever indebted to BRUCE CLARK for all the marvelous work he accomplished cleaning up the scratchy 60 year old transcriptions, 78's and presenting them in far superior audio format than the original performers ever heard them ! We can only hope someone will carry on his CUMQUAT project as a lasting legacy and memory to this fine guitarist and friend. |
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Wally Pfeifer
From:
Illinois, USA
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Posted 18 Aug 2008 8:54 am Bruce Clarke
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To the family of Bruce Clarke:
I was very saddened to hear of the death of Bruce. He had done so much for the preservation of our favorite music,- Hawaiian
During the past several years, Bruce and I exchanged many e-mails and I always knew that whenever he put out a new CD,-it was a good one. Consequently, I purchased every Hawaiian CD he produced. A priceless collection. Any problems with CD glitches or packaging glitches were always
taken care by Bruce.
I will miss him very much and just hope that someone can continue his (and our) favorite projects.
May he rest in peace in paradise.
Aloha, my friend
Wally Pfeifer
Joliet IL |
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Dan Sawyer
From:
Studio City, California, USA
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Posted 19 Aug 2008 9:54 pm
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| Aw, this is sad. The man had so much life and enthusiasm. He loved the music. |
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