Born in Los Angeles California, or to be more precise, Hollywood in 1942, Mike Clarke was immersed in music from his earliest recollections. Both his father and mother were jazz buffs, and from the age of three on, Mike was always along on the jazz club outings late into the night. Clubs like the “Beverly Caverns” where jazz greats, Louis Armstrong, Slim Galard, Bix Biederbeck, and Kid Ory played regularly, were Mike’s nursery school.



Mike Clarke made his performing debut at age six one night when Kid Ory invited him to sit in on drums during a jam session. Kid’s drummer “Ram” Hall had been coaching the youngster and was delighted at his natural talent and affinity for the drums, and for the feel of jazz syncopations. A standing ovation followed for the toddler who could not yet reach the bass drum peddle, and Mike was hooked on music and performing. His mother was a record collector, and those early Gennett, Victor, and Blue Bird labels would spin constantly with young Mike glued to the speaker.



School concert and marching bands included Mike in the percussion sections all the way through high school. There he encountered the musical mentor who would change forever his perception of music, and the road he would take to performing. At Reseda High School in the San Fernando Valley suburb of Los Angeles, Mike signed up for the Marching Band conducted by Leonard Gagliardi. Gagliardi had been a well respected big band jazz saxophonist for a number of years before he went into teaching. He invited Mike to join what was to become one of the most renowned high school jazz bands in the state, winning medals, championships, and performances on L.A. television. The band cut two record albums that are still cherished by the alumni who kept the band busy performing for all the school dances and parties and now for class reunions. Gagliardi was a stickler for discipline and precision in musical performance. “Listen to each other ..tighten it up” was his frequent admonition to his musicians. One year he introduced Mike to the vibraphone, a natural transition for a percussionist. And Mike discovered melodies, and his gift for improvisation. Gagliardi told him “Always play with emotion and let it come through in all your music!” Mike listened! From that time on he performed with a number of jazz combos all over L.A. becoming a competent jazz pianist. After a few years, he began composing and arranging but could not get the sound he wanted until he formed his own band in 1974.



While performing in a jazz club on Ventura Boulevard, between sets by Bobbie Troup and Julie London who were headlining, an agent approached Mike and offered the band a Las Vegas engagement. The band, which evolved as time went on, spent the next few years on the road in places like New Orleans, New York, Reno, Lake Tahoe, Dallas, West Palm Beach, and of course back to Las Vegas, with a lot of stops in between. Songs were written, arrangements were refined, and the talent was polished. Rock and Country found their way into the band’s song book due to the demands of “show band” performing on stages like Las Vegas, and the Disney Hotel in L.A. and Mike Clarke discovered new areas of expression, and opportunities to incorporate new kinds of musical styles into his arranging and composing. These are present still in the rock rhythms he employs in many of his Big Band arrangements.



After several years “on the road” Mike Clarke turned the band over to bass player Bill Stapley, and took a day job to begin seriously studying composition and arranging. In the process he picked up a Masters Degree in Business Administration and explored the world of computers and eventually, digital recording. He now resides in Birmingham, Alabama where he has become a “go-to” source for local musicians needing original compositions or arrangements. Recently Mike has made entrée into the realm of motion picture scores with some background music for scenes in a dark comedy film called “Killing Christian” which premiered recently. The producers have slated Mike to create the entire score for their next project. Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum and Raceway commissioned Mike to write and record the score for their promotional film about the world class motorcycle and racing car museum and speedway which is located close to Birmingham. Some of that score is available on Mike’s album “Imagine”.



The creativity well never seems to run dry, and Mike Clarke continues to produce one or two albums a year loaded with original compositions and arrangements. Lately he has teamed with fellow musician and recording engineer Todd Fisher to create DigiTrax Productions.