Hello Gene Clark fans and welcome to another issue of Echoes!

We hear that last month’s Bonner Springs Historical Preservation Society event at the Bonner Springs Library was big success! Here's a brief synopsis from Judith Hogan Tinberg of the BSHPS:

Rick (Tinberg) and I were asked to give this presentation since we we were school mates of Gene. Neither of us had followed his career closely until we stumbled across a vast fan club that shared his music with each other, articles, books, recorded interviews, etc. Well, at that point ya just want the whole world to know how great Gene was, especially those folks who grew up with Gene Clark! Thanks to the excellent documentary by Paul Kendall (The Byrd Who Flew Alone), they were able to hear and see for themselves in a "home town" setting, the story of Gene Clark. We were so happy to see members of the Clark family there as well, to share their thoughts with us. We've been asked to do an encore! That will most likely happen in the fall, when class reunions happen...and it'll be more publicized, now that they see how much there is to share.

We want the world to know just how great Gene was too! You can be sure that when the next event happens, we'll be posting it right here!

Gene Clark postcard used with permission, courtesy of The Clark Family.

Next, we have something very special to share with all of you, courtesy of The Clark Family. After Gene left the Byrds in 1966, he went on a “retreat”, as he called it, to Northern California. The beautiful scenery of the coast must have made an impact on him because he sent a post card back home to his parents in Bonner Springs to tell them about it. Here’s what he wrote:

Postcard: Looking north from Partington Ridge, Big Sur, Calif. On Highway 1, south of Carmel

Had to get away from L.A., but couldn’t come all the way home. Am in retreat in a cabin in this beautiful national forest filled with giant redwoods. Have promised myself I will live here, as soon as I can secure some land and build a house. I will call you soon.

(Love)

Eugene

It’s interesting to get some insight as to what he was doing and where he was going during this mysterious period, and get a rare look into what made an impression on him. Personally, for me it’s the equivalent of seeing a postcard from Dylan after his motorcycle accident, only better! My sincere thanks goes to The Clark Family for allowing me to share this with you here!

Do you have have a special story to tell or photos you'd like to share of seeing Gene in concert? I'm interested in running a feature for this newsletter consisting of memories from fans who either saw The Byrds with Gene in concert or Gene solo. If you are interested in participating, please send an email to:

GeneClarkWebsite@gmail.com

with the subject line: memories. Text submissions should be no longer than a brief paragraph or two. Photos should be attached to the email with a brief description and a photo credit. I hope to hear from you!

This month’s 5Q is with Barnes Newberry, host of the My Back Pages show on mvyradio. Be sure to check your in-box next month when we will be featuring 5Q with Johnny Rogan, author of the new book Byrds: Requiem for the Timeless: Volume 2: The Lives of Gene Clark, Michael Clarke, Kevin Kelley, Gram Parsons, Clarence White and Skip Battin, scheduled for release on August 1, 2017. Don't miss out!

Have a Happy and safe Fourth of July to all of you American Dreamers!

BARNES NEWBERRY

BARNES NEWBERRY is the host of My Back Pages on mvyradio. Barnes’ show features a unique blend of 60s and 70s folk, folk-rock, singer songwriters, country-rock and blues including songs from contemporary artists of the same genres with similar themes of “peace, of love and heartbreak, of political disillusionment and social changes”. A Bob Dylan aficionado, Barnes also has a deep appreciation for the songwriting of Gene Clark and frequently includes his songs in the playlists. He’s also been a great supporter of the petition to Induct Gene Clark into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. You can catch My Back Pages every Saturday, from 8–12 or listen to archived shows at any time by clicking here. 

**If you enjoy the show, please consider making a contribution during the station’s fund drive from July 6-14 in support of commercial-free programming. friendsofmvyradio.org

1. When was the first time you met Gene?

I met Gene Clark on a chilly evening in October, 1988 at the Old Vienna Coffeehouse in Westborough, MA. Although he was clearly under the weather, I was thrilled to be seeing a solo performance by one of my all-time favorite singer-songwriters. Actually I had been waiting for this moment since 1965! It was not a large crowd, possibly 40, and he promptly got onstage with his guitar and then immediately came off the stage, grabbed a stool, and had had us gather around him in chairs as if he were a teacher. He played and sang us seventeen songs. We were happily well-taught.

2 - What is your favorite Gene Clark story/memory?

The favorite story/memory is from that same night. I then owned and operated a venue called The Blackthorne Tavern in South Easton, MA and I had just recently held a concert with Roger McGuinn. In chatting with Roger I asked him if he might ever consider playing with Gene again as I had seen them together back in 1978 in Boston. I recall him laughing but sincerely saying: “I would love to, but it is all up to Gene". So...after seeing Gene perform his lovely set at The Old Vienna I went backstage by myself to meet him, thank him, and try to book him for a future Blackthorne club date, as well as get a sense of any interest on his part for playing again with Roger. We proceeded to have a very fun, informal gab fest. I distinctly recall him smiling and laughing and chatting away. When I brought up the McGuinn idea, he suddenly lurched forward in his chair and looking at me intently said: “Of course! But, hey, it is all up to Roger”. Each one seemed eager but deferred to their respective managers, I dutifully contacted each and told them what transpired. I got back a lot of noise and anger for “interfering” and both (managers) adamantly stated neither artist wanted to take the risk. I sensed they had not even spoken to them and were simply holding their ground. I adamantly disagreed but to no avail.

3 - What do you know about Gene that you would want his fans to know?

What I want to remind people is that this moment in time was new. Yes, I had seen him perform as a Byrd on television, but that was it. Here it was now, just the two of us, fan and musician in a small room, two guys that had never met, talking and laughing as if we had been pals all our lives. It was kind of bizarre I admit, to feel such a sudden rare connection and I will always have the image of him burned into my brain grinning and sitting in his tilted back chair with his boots resting on a table in front of him. This was not Gene Clark, The Rock Star, this was Gene Clark the man, the human being, the friend in the room. No pretense at all. It was simply real and spontaneous. So, as I was getting ready to leave, I told him I would call both his manager and Roger’s manager in the morning and try to work out a concert at my venue, at which point he jumped up, looked me right in the eye, thanked me profusely, and as I reached out my hand, he warmly grabbed my shoulders and gave me a huge bear hug. I was flabbergasted, but it felt so normal and so heartfelt. I will never forget it!

4 - Favorite Gene Clark Song/Album?

I could lay claim to so many of his songs. He was so damned prolific! But it would have to be how I first heard him..."Here Without You" (with an imaginary B-side of "Straight From The Heart"!). Album? Solo, I assume, so probably White Light.

5 - Fill in the blank: I think Gene Clark should be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame because... 

It is plainly obvious to me (and probably to everyone else on this marvelous site) that we don’t need reasons or have to defend our position as to why he should be in the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He was Gene Clark, for goodness sake!