Chris Clark (singer)
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| Chris Clark | |
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| Background information | |
| Born | February 1, 1946 Santa Cruz, California, US |
| Genre(s) | Soul, R&B |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Label(s) | V.I.P., Motown, Weed |
| Website | ChrisClarkInc.com |
Chris Clark (born February 1, 1946 in Santa Cruz, California) is an American soul singer who recorded for Motown Records. Clark became famous in England as the "white Negress" (a nickname meant as a compliment), because the six-foot platinum blonde, blue-eyed soul singer toured with fellow Motown artists who were predominantly black.
Recording on the V.I.P. label, one of several Motown imprints, Chris Clark is still acknowledged by Northern Soul fans for songs such as 1965's "Do Right Baby Do Right" (by Berry Gordy, Jr.) and 1966's "Love's Gone Bad" (Holland-Dozier-Holland). Another of her notable songs was the 1967 single "I Want To Go Back There Again" (Berry Gordy, Jr).
The United States' answer to Dusty Springfield, Clark, who also dated Motown founder Berry Gordy Jr., managed to have only one hit; ironically, it was on the R&B singles chart. "Love's Gone Bad" made #105 pop, and #41 R&B in 1966.
In 1967, Clark released an album called Soul Sounds on the Motown label. The LP's cover art showed the singer wearing a black dress against a black background, in striking contrast to her fair skin, blue eyes and blonde hair. The album featured twelve songs including a rare Motown ballad called "If You Should Walk Away" (Berry Gordy, Jr.) which was slated for release as a single, but never was. Clark recorded one more album for Motown on its newly created rock label Weed called C.C. Rides Again (1969), but the album failed commercially because it was not promoted by Motown[citation needed]. Today it is considered a rare collectable[citation needed]. It remains the only album ever released on the label.
A CD made in Belgium entitled Soul Sounds made from the original master tapes was issued, but the disc actually contains the songs from both her albums with Motown plus an unreleased single. A 2005 50-track double-CD compilation includes Soul Sounds, C.C. Rides Again, and many unreleased Motown recordings.
Clark co-write the screenplay for the 1972 Diana Ross vehicle Lady Sings the Blues, for which she was nominated for an Academy Award. She later became an executive for Motown Productions' film and television division in Los Angeles.
In 1982 she married Academy Award-winning screenwriter and novelist Ernest Tidyman. He died of a perforated ulcer in 1984.
In recent years, Clark has become an art photographer and has exhibited her work mainly to art dealers and at a few galleries. She also performs on stage occasionally in clubs in the United States and in Europe. She currently lives in Santa Rosa, California.[1]
[edit] Selected Discography
Releases on the Tamla Motown Label (UK)
- Tamla/Motown STML/TML11069 Soul Sounds 12" vinyl LP album
- Tamla/Motown TMG591 Love's Gone Bad / Put Yourself in My Place 7"
- Tamla/Motown TMG624 From Head to Toe / The Beginning of the End 7"
- Tamla/Motown TMG638 I Want to Go Back There Again / I Love You 7"
- Tamla/Motown TME2014 V/A New Faces from Hitsville EP (inc. Chris Clark)
Releases on the V.I.P. Label (USA)
Do Right Baby, Do Right / Don't Be Too Long - 1966 - 7" Love's Gone Bad / Put Yourself In My Place - 1966 - 7" I Want To Go Back There Again / I Want To Go Back There Again - 1967 (Promo Issue Only) - 7"
Releases on the Motown Label (USA)
Soul Sounds - 1967 (Mono Version) - 12" vinyl LP album Soul Sounds - 1967 (Stereo Version) - 12" vinyl LP album From Head To Toe / From Head To Toe - 1967 (Promo Issue Only) - 7" From Head To Toe / Beginning Of The End - 1967 - 7" Whisper You Love Me Boy / The Beginning Of The End - 1968 - 7"
Releases on the Weed Label (USA)
C.C. Rides Again - 1969 (Stereo Only) - LP
Released on Marginal Import (Belgium)
Soul Sounds - 1997 (Contains both "Soul Sounds" and "C.C. Rides Again" albums plus unreleased
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ Selvin, Joel. "An unsung soul singer resurfaces", San Francisco Chronicle, 2007-08-29. Retrieved on 2008-06-07.
