Sonny Clark

Sonny Clark (Conrad Yeatis Clark, 1931-1963) was an American hard bop pianist and composer, born in Herminie, Pennsylvania. After years on the West Coast he moved to New York in 1957 and became one of the house pianists of Blue Note Records, where he led his own dates and played on many sessions for others. His 1958 album Cool Struttin' is the record most associated with his name. Sonny Clark moved to California at about 20 and worked with Wardell Gray, then toured the United States and Europe with Buddy DeFranco from 1953 to 1956 and joined Howard Rumsey's Lighthouse All-Stars in 1956.