ANTHONY JOHN CLARKE

 

Anthony John Clarke was a very late fifties baby, born in Belfast on October 18th 1956. He started songwriting at the age of nine inspired by the sixties but it was only when he left Ireland and came to England that he pursued his passion for writing with any vigour .Lacking belief in his work he languished in the shadow of others for too long but the creator of "Irish Eyes" and the beautiful "Seven In Ireland" was destined to make a mark on the British Contemporary Music Scene. Living in Liverpool and being managed superbly by Sheelagh for many years afforded Anthony John the opportunity of performing his songs far and wide. Seven tours of the East Coast of the USA ensured him a small but loyal following there which remains loyal to him to this day .Bookings at clubs up and down the UK and recent developments including the vocal collaboration with Elizabeth van de Waal increased his popularity and made him a FOLK NAME

There are very few places in the UK and Ireland that Anthony John has not played, his supporters are loyal and many and the tributes he receives from his peers bear witness to the talent and hard work of one of the folk scene's nicest guys.With several albums of songs to his name he retains his reputation as one of the top songwriters on the scene. His hard work and dedication to his craft are a credit to him.. For him, songwriting is indeed a craft:

 

"The songwriter has a responsibility. It's not enough to put a tune to some words or some words to a tune. The song is a vehicle for a notion that the writer has about something. If it wasn't, then the song would have no beginning, middle or end. It's not complicated. The notion is what starts the process and the completed song is the fruition. It invites others into the notion, the idea,the feeling, the celebration, the private moment. And if you can provide a laugh or two along the way it gets my vote."

Anthony John speaking on BBC Northern Ireland 2004

 

His songs include the legendary: Broken Years, The Only Life Gloria Knows, Tuesday Night Is Always Karaoke, Irish Eyes, Between Midnight and Blue and the sensational Two People. His shows are funny, challenging and extremely popular. Anthony John Clarke is one of the music scene's real gentlemen.

 

"People don't leave the house to be bored to death. You have a responsibility to entertain and avoid being self-indulgent. I avoid being professionally Irish as much as I can. I'm from Ireland and I love Ireland but that doesn't mean I have to go on about Ireland all night. Just because I'm an Irish songwriter doesn't mean I can't love the Kinks and the Small Faces, Wes Montgomery, Coldplay, The Dixie Chicks, Christy Moore or Frances Black. I like the songs of George Formby . They were my first delight musically and I liked listening to them with my children as they were growing up"

Anthony John speaking on BBC Radio Merseyside 2005

 

If you've not seen an Anthony John Clarke Concert, give it try! If you've not heard his music, you have a treat in store.

He is no ordinary songwriter, and the warm feeling that you experience when leaving one of his shows will stay with you forever.