Profile via TMDB · Courtesy of TMDB
Kenny Clarke
Sign in to saveAlso known as Klook, Kenneth Clarke Spearman, Kenneth S. Clark, Kenneth Spearman Clarke
American jazz drummer (1914–1985)
OverviewAI-generated
Kenny Clarke was an American jazz musician and drummer born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on January 9, 1914. He played the drum kit and was associated with the genres of jazz and bebop. His professional career began in 1931, and he worked as a bandleader and conductor. Clarke was a member of the Modern Jazz Quartet and recorded for the Blue Note label. He was also represented by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.
Clarke, who was of African American ethnicity and identified with Islam, died in Paris, Montreuil, on January 26, 1985. He received the NEA Jazz Masters award. His funeral was a significant event in his biography. He is recognized for his contributions to jazz drums and American jazz.
Synthesized by Vinony from 28 facts across 4 sources: Wikidata, MusicBrainz, Last.fm, TMDb. Generated from structured data (not the Wikipedia text) and checked against those facts — may still contain errors.
Film & TV
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Kenneth Clarke Spearman (January 9, 1914 – January 26, 1985), nicknamed Klook, was an American jazz drummer and bandleader. A major innovator of the bebop style of drumming, he pioneered the use of the ride cymbal to keep time rather than the hi-hat, along with the use of the bass drum for irregular accents ("dropping bombs"). Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he was orphaned at the age of about…
Known for
- Les Rendez-vous du dimanche — Self1975
- Midi Première — Self1975
- Discorama — Self1959
- NDR Jazz Workshops — Self1958
via TMDB
Music · MusicBrainz
- Type
- Person
- Gender
- Male
- Country
- United States
- Active from
- 1914
- Active to
- 1985
Discography
- Bohemia After Dark1955
- Hear Me Talkin’ to Ya / Bohemia After Dark1955
- Telefunken Blues1955
- The Golden Eight1961
- Jazz a confronto 201975
- I Giganti Del Jazz Vol. 371981
- Pieces of Time1984
- The Quintessence: Stockholm – New York – Paris 1938–19492000
- The Chronological Classics: Kenny Clarke 1946-19482001
- The Chronological Classics: Kenny Clarke 1948-19502001
Member of
- Jack Diéval et son trio1950–1950
- The Modern Jazz Quartet1952–1955
- Sam Price Trio
- Quincy Jones and His Orchestra
- Al Haig Trio
- The Kenny Clarke - Francy Boland Sextet
- John Mehegan Trio
- The Trio
- Miles Davis All Stars
- Kenny Clarke Trio
- The Eddie Davis-Johnny Griffin Quintet
- Michel de Villers et son quintette
- Sidney Bechet and His New Orleans Feetwarmers
- The Miles Davis Nonet
- Bud Powell Trio
- Zoot Sims Quartet
via MusicBrainz · CC0
Listeners · Last.fm
- Listeners
- 14,248
- Total plays
- 73,839
Tags
Kenny Clarke (born Kenneth Clarke Spearman, later aka, Liaqat Ali Salaam, on January 9, 1914 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-died January 26, 1985 in Paris, France) was a jazz drummer and an early innovator of the bebop style of drumming. As the house drummer at Minton's Playhouse in the early 1940's, he participated in the after hours jams that led to the birth of modern jazz. He is credited with creating the modern role of the ride cymbal as the primary timekeeper. <a href="https://www.last.fm/mus
Key facts
- Born
- Kenneth Clarke Spearman , ( 1914-01-09 ) January 9, 1914, Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania , U.S.
- Died
- January 26, 1985 (1985-01-26) (aged 71), Montreuil , France
- Genres
- Jazz
- Occupation
- Musician
- Instrument
- Drums
- Years active
- 1931–1984
- Formerly of
- Dizzy Gillespie Big Band Modern Jazz Quartet The Three Bosses Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band
via Wikipedia infobox
Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- human
- Family name
- Clarke
- Gender
- male
- Citizenship
- United States
- Place of birth
- Pittsburgh
- Place of death
- Montreuil
- Occupation
- percussionist
- Religion
- Islam
- Award
- NEA Jazz Masters
- Genre
- bebop
- Instrument
- drum kit
- Record label
- Blue Note
- Image
- Finale Internationaal Jazz Festival Loosdrecht, drummer Kenny Clarke, Bestanddeelnr 924-7968.jpg
- Significant event
- funeral
Show 6 more facts
- date of birth
- 1914-01-09
- date of death
- 1985-01-26
- Commons category
- Kenny Clarke
- start of work period
- 1931-00-00
- copyright representative
- American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers
- ethnic group
- African Americans
Sources (9)
via Wikidata · CC0
~20 min read
Encyclopedic overview
Kenneth Clarke Spearman (January 9, 1914 – January 26, 1985), known professionally as Kenny Clarke and nicknamed Klook, was an American jazz drummer and bandleader. A major innovator of the bebop style of drumming, he pioneered the use of the ride cymbal to keep time rather than the hi-hat, along with the use of the bass drum for irregular accents ("dropping bombs").
Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he was orphaned about age five and began playing drums when he was eight or nine at the urging of a teacher at his orphanage. He turned professional in 1931 at age 17; four years later, he moved to New York City where he began to establish his drumming style and reputation. As the house drummer at Minton's Playhouse in the early 1940s, he participated in the after-hours jams that led to the birth of bebop.
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Kenny Clarke” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.