Sanford Clark

A guitar player from childhood, Sanford Clark was influenced by early rock & roll music and country music. He got his start in the early 50's playing in the Phoenix clubs. While stationed in the South Pacific, during his stint in the Air force, he formed a band and won a talent contest in Hawaii. The Air Force eventually stationed him back in Phoenix, where his old friend Al Casey introduced Clark to Lee Hazlewood. This began the successful Clark & Casey writer / performer partnership in association with Lester Sill and Lee Hazlewood at Gregmark Music..

Clark was among a handful of 1950's rockabillies, his sound leaned more along the lines of Johnny Cash rather than Elvis Presley. Lee Hazelwood's "The Fool" became a national top 10 hit and a No. 1 hit in Texas for Sanford Clark, galvanizing his reputation as an artist in August of 1956. His recording sessions produced songs for Gregmark like "Still As the Night" and "Sing 'Em Some Blues" (with Duane Eddy playing acoustic lead) in May of 1958.

Other notable songs recorded in 1959, through Gregmark include "My Jealousy", "New Kind of Fool" and "Son of a Gun". The Johnny Cash inspired "Run Boy Run" was recorded in March 1960, orchestrated only with bass and acoustic guitars, and "Go On Home" included the growling distorted guitar sound of Al Casey. In 1967, Clark signed with Ramco Records (owned by Floyd Ramsey), and recorded 12 sides for the label.

A second national hit like "The Fool" never materialized for Clark. Lee Hazlewood went on to produce Nancy Sinatra and Dean Martin at Warner/Reprise, Martin ended up covering "The Fool" and the Dean Martin version replaced Sanford Clark release in radio rotation.