Gary Clark Jr.

Gary Clark Jr. is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter known for his contributions to blues, rock, and R&B music. Clark began playing guitar at age 12 and performed at local venues in Austin during his early teens. He gained early recognition from Clifford Antone, owner of the Austin blues club Antone's, who invited Clark to perform onstage with artists such as James Cotton and Pinetop Perkins. The city of Austin recognized his influence on the local music scene by proclaiming a day in his honor.

Clark performed at the Crossroads Guitar Festival, curated by Eric Clapton, which led to a recording contract with Warner Bros. Records. He released "The Bright Lights" EP, followed by the albums "Blak and Blu" and "The Story of Sonny Boy Slim." "Blak and Blu" reached number six on the Billboard 200 and topped the Blues Albums chart. Clark received multiple honors at the Austin Music Awards, including Band of the Year, Musician of the Year, Song of the Year, Album of the Year, Electric Guitarist of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, Blues/Soul/Funk Artist of the Year, and Male Vocalist of the Year. Rolling Stone recognized Clark in its "Best of Rock" issue.

Clark's third full-length album, "This Land," addressed social themes and debuted in the top 10 of the Billboard Top 200. The title track was inspired by a personal experience with racism. Clark has received four Grammy Awards, including Best Rock Performance, Best Rock Song, and Best Contemporary Blues Album for "This Land," as well as Best Traditional R&B Performance for "Please Come Home." He has been nominated for six Grammy Awards in total.

Clark has collaborated with artists across genres, including Alicia Keys, Foo Fighters, and Stevie Wonder. He incorporated African music influences on the album "JPEG RAW," and contributed guitar work to Beyoncé's album "Cowboy Carter." Clark served as Music Director for Jon Stewart's acceptance of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall, performing alongside Bruce Springsteen in a nationally televised event on PBS.

In addition to his music career, Clark has appeared in films and television series, including Baz Luhrmann's "Elvis," portraying Arthur Big Boy Crudup. He has performed on national television programs such as Saturday Night Live, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Late Late Show with James Corden, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and Good Morning America. Clark is also a part-owner of Antone's, the Austin blues club where he first performed as a teenager. His career reflects the ongoing influence of blues music and his role as a prominent figure in contemporary blues, rock, and R&B.