Gary Clark Jr

Gary Lee Clark Jr. was born on February 15, 1984, in Austin, Texas. He received his first guitar, an Ibanez RX20, at the age of 13. Clark taught himself to play by utilizing instructional books from his middle school library and drawing inspiration from artists such as Green Day, Nirvana, Jimmy Reed, and Stevie Ray Vaughan. His early career involved playing small local gigs, leading to a pivotal meeting with Clifford Antone, the proprietor of Antone’s, a prominent Austin music club. Antone’s had historically launched the careers of blues artists like Jimmie and Stevie Ray Vaughan, and this connection proved instrumental in Clark’s musical development. He began performing with other musicians, including Jimmie Vaughan, who, along with other members of the Austin music community, supported his career.

In 2011, Clark signed with Warner Bros Records and released _The Bright Lights_ EP. This was followed by the critically acclaimed albums _Blak and Blu_ in 2012 and _The Story of Sonny Boy Slim_ in 2015. His career has been marked by significant live performances, documented in albums such as _Gary Clark Jr. Live_ (2014) and _Gary Clark Jr Live/North America_ (2017). Clark collaborated with major artists including Alicia Keys, co-writing “Fire We Make” in 2012, and the Foo Fighters on “What Did I Do? / God as My Witness” for their 2014 album _Sonic Highways_. His work on the soundtrack for the 2017 Pixar film _Cars 3_ with ZZ Ward, and his cover of The Beatles’ “Come Together” for the _Justice League_ film, further expanded his reach. The latter became his first charting single on _Billboard_’s Mainstream Rock chart, peaking at number 15.

Clark achieved significant recognition at the Grammy Awards. In 2014, he received a Grammy for Best Traditional R&B Performance for “Please Come Home.” He continued this success in 2020, winning three more Grammy Awards: Best Contemporary Blues Album for _This Land_, and both Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance for its title track, “This Land.” This album was notable as it was inspired by a series of racist encounters near his horse ranch in Kyle, Texas. His most recent album, _JPEG Raw_, was released in 2024. Throughout his career, Clark has performed at numerous high-profile festivals and events, including Bonnaroo, the Crossroads Guitar Festival, and the Glastonbury Festival, and has made television appearances on shows such as _Saturday Night Live_ and _The Late Show with Stephen Colbert_.