Bruce Clarke Cumquat Records... who owns the label/backstock

Jim Campbell · Post by **Jim Campbell** » 10 Feb 2015 9:49 pm

(I posted this same post under "wanted to buy", but It's probaly more relevant in this section so I deleted it and moved it here)

So I have gathered from reading some old forum posts that Bruce Clarke passed away several years ago and his record label's website has been down since at least 2012 and possibly the email address associated with them hasn't been monitored either.
I did see a mention that for a time his son was running his label.
Does anyone have contact info for his son?
It would be wonderful if some of the albums he had been making cds of could continue to be available for purchase.. maybe even just as mp3 downloads. I know some of that material.. specificall but I would gladly pay for real copies if they were available.
I really wonder too about some of the originals he had. The Sol Hoopiii radio transcriptions only went up to episode 12 on the cds but he mentioned 14 episodes in the liner notes.

Roger Fletcher · Post by **Roger Fletcher** » 11 Feb 2015 2:29 am

I remember reading on this forum that his son was indeed running the business and had a large stock of CDs. He was apparently working flat out on his retail instrument shop and hadn't yet found time to rebuild the website for selling the CDs.

Someone quoted his email address, and so I emailed him but never received a reply. I have upgraded my computer since then, and so have lost any further details I might have had.

Matthew Dawson · Post by **Matthew Dawson** » 11 Feb 2015 3:26 am

An mp3 download site for the Cumquat stuff would be amazing but I'm not sure if such a thing will ever happen.

James Hartman · Post by **James Hartman** » 11 Feb 2015 7:07 am

This is of interest to me. The sound quality of the Dick McIntire discs I have from them is outstanding. There were quite a few more Cumquat releases I'd hoped to get.

Anyone tried to find the old thread? Perhaps it has contact info.

Matthew Dawson wrote:An mp3 download site for the Cumquat stuff would be amazing but I'm not sure if such a thing will ever happen.

Excellent idea.

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 11 Feb 2015 7:48 am

Bruce Clarke passed away in 2008. I was able to find an address for Clarke Audio (which was another of his business ventures), but I doubt it's in business either.

http://www.clarkeaudio.com/nfcontact.htm

Good luck on your search!

Jim Campbell · Post by **Jim Campbell** » 11 Feb 2015 9:14 am

here's the last thread, where I read about this originally. http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... b279b64f99

Jim Campbell · Post by **Jim Campbell** » 11 Feb 2015 9:35 am

I emailed the address on Dallas Clarke's high end audio site there. I'll keep you posted if I hear more about what has become of his collection. I have a dream that I might be able to help them set up some sort of digital download site for these recordings. They really are valuable recordings available nowhere else.

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 11 Feb 2015 1:43 pm

Bruce had absolute passion for these old records. I suspect his sons don't feel the same and/or don't want the burden of administering the duplication and sales for a small paycheck.

If you've ever seen an episode of American Pickers, it's a common story. The parent was a passionate collector of "stuff", they've now passed away, and now the children are left to dispose of or ignore what's left behind.

The CD market is dying so an online download scenario is probably the only recourse if Bruce's digital master files still exist.

John Ed Kelly · Post by **John Ed Kelly** » 11 Feb 2015 4:17 pm

Brad, I rang the number listed on the Clarke Audio website this morning and spoke to Dallas Clarke. It's a local call for me as we both reside in Melbourne.

I am sending Dallas this web address and I guess he will contact you in due course.

I'd be keen to peruse the catalogue as well.

Chrs...JK

Jim Campbell · Post by **Jim Campbell** » 11 Feb 2015 4:23 pm

Thanks John! Yeah I live in new york, so I opted for emailing him rather than figuring out how to call Australia.

John Ed Kelly · Post by **John Ed Kelly** » 11 Feb 2015 4:31 pm

''I opted for emailing him rather than figuring out how to call Australia.''

Jim, the international code and number is: 61-3-9561-6567. That's just in case you get the urge to call. NY will be about a half day behind, with respect to times zones.

Chrs...jk

Jim Campbell · Post by **Jim Campbell** » 12 Feb 2015 8:42 am

Dallas replied to my email. His other business and the economic downturn seem to have made it difficult for him to keep up cumquat records. But he now has http://cumquatrecords.com/ (as opposed to the old ".au" address) and plans on bringing back a revamped website soon. He still has a back stock of cds and can do mail order on request. So, I guess the answer is, stay tuned, but if there is something you really really want now, it is possible to get ahold of him through his other business mentioned above.

James Hartman · Post by **James Hartman** » 12 Feb 2015 9:25 am

Jim Campbell wrote:Dallas replied to my email. His other business and the economic downturn seem to have made it difficult for him to keep up cumquat records. But he now has http://cumquatrecords.com/ (as opposed to the old ".au" address) and plans on bringing back a revamped website soon. He still has a back stock of cds and can do mail order on request. So, I guess the answer is, stay tuned, but if there is something you really really want now, it is possible to get ahold of him through his other business mentioned above.

That's great news! I was hoping an expression of interest from the forum here - a group of people who seriously study this music - might encourage him to continue making it available. But it sounds like it was his intention to do so, anyway.

Thanks, Jim and John, for pursuing it.

Ralph Czitrom · Post by **Ralph Czitrom** » 12 Feb 2015 9:41 am

Excellent news! Bruce Clarke did a great job of remastering those wonderful recordings. I'm fortunate to have a few CD's and definitely welcome the opportunity to purchase more (CD or download). Let's keep our fingers crossed!

Jeff Spencer · Post by **Jeff Spencer** » 15 Feb 2015 2:20 am

I too had some good conversations with Bruce before his passing and bought several vinyl records from his collection. Also bought his Hawaiian steel guitar course 'The Hawaiian Hotshots' I think I intended buying all he had but alas....
Not sure if folk here knew but he was a excellent steel guitarist as well as a Jazz guitar exponent.

Wally Pfeifer · Post by **Wally Pfeifer** » 15 Feb 2015 9:41 am

This is all very interesting and I hope some of you will be able to get the CDs you want from Dallas someday. I purchased all,-I believe,- the Hawaiian CDs that Bruce made available when he was still with us. I think I have about 28-29 of Bruce's Hawaiian CDs. At the present, I am hanging onto them but they will probably all be for sale in the near future. They are all very fine recordings. Some not as well known as others but still fine. Good luck in
your correspondence with Dallas and I hope he can send you whatever CDs you want.

Wally

Jeff Spencer · Post by **Jeff Spencer** » 15 Feb 2015 10:18 am

Jeff Spencer · Post by **Jeff Spencer** » 15 Feb 2015 10:20 am

Jeff Strouse · Post by **Jeff Strouse** » 15 Feb 2015 11:56 pm

I have pretty much the entire Hawaiian collection that I got when Bruce was still with us.

I hope Dallas can get it back up running. Even if not for actual Discs, a download site would be perfect.

For Jazz fans, Bruce had quite a jazz library of him playing with different groups. I hope they will be available as well.

Don Kona Woods · Post by **Don Kona Woods** » 16 Feb 2015 12:42 am

My neck was developing a problem in reading the above so I did some editing and here is the result:

Jeff Spencer · Post by **Jeff Spencer** » 16 Feb 2015 4:24 am

Thanks Don!!! Sorry guys,.