Jack Clark at the baby grand at Hullanders Hymn Sing in 2018
Jack Clark of Cleveland was among four Southern Gospel Artists inducted this week into the Southern Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame. The announcement is made every year during the National Quartet Convention. It’s being held all this week in Pigeon Forge.
The West Virginia native started playing the piano when he was five. At the age of 12, Mr. Clark became interested in four-part harmony through the Stamps Baxter songbooks. He’s written over 200 gospel songs.
Mr. Clark has played piano for a variety of gospel singers, starting out with the Gilliam Quartet in California. He traveled to Ohio and got a job with the Landmark Quartet with the Landmark Temple in Cincinnati pastored by Rev. Rex Humbard. Rev. Humbard was on national television. Mr. Clark also played for the Songfellows, Harvesters, Homeland Harmony and Premiers. In 1981 Mr. Clark started teaching music at the North Georgia School of Gospel Music.
Cleveland Mayor Emeritus Tom Rowland said he really enjoys listening to Mr. Clark play the piano and called him “the best”. Mayor Rowland also said that Mr. Clark is a great gospel songwriter.
For many years Mr. Clark worked for Pathway Press, publishers of the Red Back Church Hymnal. Mr. Clark said, “There’s nothing like the great hymns of the church, most of them preach a sermon.”
Hamilton County Trustee Bill Hullander has been a fan of Mr. Clark for several decades. Over five years ago, Mr. Clark, Mr. Hullander and Sue Gray organized the monthly “Hymn Sings” at Hullander’s farm in Apison. The hymn sings were temporarily stopped because of COVID.
Jack was involved in the music department of Westwood Baptist Church for 45 years, serving as pianist and orchestra director. At the age of 87, Mr. Clark says he may slow down a little but has no plans to stop spreading the Ggspel through his piano music.
Also inducted this year into the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame were Karen Peck, Marlin Taylor and Aaron Wilburn.
Jack Clark with his good friends, the late Hamilton County Commissioner Curtis Adams and WDYN General Manager Tom Sneed