Songwriter and producer;
Born: April 5, 1931; Died: August 8, 2013.
Jack Clement, who has died aged 82, was a songwriter and producer who helped with the birth of rock 'n' roll and took country music into modern times. His death came months after he learned he would be joining the Country Music Hall of Fame. He was to be inducted later this year.
At the top of his official Country Music Hall of Fame biography was one of Clement's favourite quotes: "If we're not having fun, we're not doing our job."
He was known as much for his colourful personality and storytelling ability as his rather formidable place in music history.
A tribute benefit concert to Clement last winter drew video salutes from First Lady Michelle Obama, former president Bill Clinton and pop star Taylor Swift, as well as performances and appearances by fans including Kris Kristofferson, John Prine, Dan Auerbach from The Black Keys, and Jakob Dylan.
Clement's career included stops in Memphis at Sun Records as an engineer for Sam Phillips, where he discovered Jerry Lee Lewis and recorded greats like Carl Perkins and Roy Orbison. He also came through Nashville, where he was a close collaborator of Johnny Cash, Charley Pride and many of his fellow Hall of Fame members.
The Hall of Fame noted that he was a catalyst who always seemed to bring out the best in those he worked with.
He convinced Jerry Lee Lewis to put aside the country material he brought to Sun Records and stretch out with something a little more upbeat. The result was Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On. He also helped mark a turning point in the career of U2, recording their roots tribute Rattle And Hum and he came up with the idea of putting Mariachi horns on Johnny Cash's Ring of Fire, transforming a fairly sedate love song into an ascendant pop culture moment.
Born in Memphis in 1931, Jack Clement picked up music in his late teens and continued to perform after joining the Marines when he was 17. He acquired the nickname "Cowboy" for his role in a radio show while attending college and soon built a recording studio in a garage.
He took the first records he made to Sun to master and was hired on the spot by Phillips. He also served as a producer, engineer and talent scout in Nashville for Chet Atkins during some of country music's most important years.
Along the way, he boosted George Jones's career with his composition She Thinks I Still Care and had songs recorded by Ray Charles, Waylon Jennings, Tom Jones, Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner and Elvis Presley.
He also touched the careers of Louis Armstrong, Albert Collins, Prine, Townes Van Zandt and Hank Williams Jr among others.
He is survived by his partner Aleene Jackson, his daughter Alison and son Niles.
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