Earl "King Mellowman" Clarke was born in Detroit Michigan and has been into music for as long as he can remember. The first people to recognize this musical child prodigy were his parents, Dolores M. Prophet, former alto and lead soloist for the Lucille Lemon Gospel Chorus, and Cyril L. Clarke. His father was the originator of two oustanding male singing groups, The Majestics and the Contours. "King Mellowman" is a multi talented, superbly accomplished musician whose musical versatility goes well beyond his chronological years. If you ask him what his preference is, he will surely respond that his heart and soul is overtaken by Reggae and Calypso sounds. He is also accomplished on several musical instruments such as piano, guitar, bass, drums and a range of others. While he displays a magnificent vocal range, he has never been formally trained in music theory or vocal composition. According to his parents, "he was singing before he was talking." King Mellowman has performed with a number of bands in and around the City of Detroit; among these are O.C Roberts & The Sarmaritans, Inventive Source, The King David Posse, Ako-Ben, Bandulu, Unit Ten, Level Vibes, Tropical Connection, The Detroit All-star Reggae band, The Nomads, The Basiks(Original reggae band he founded),Ras Kente and The Take No Prisoner Posse, Island Heat, Jonab, Trinidad Tripoli Steel Band, The Roots Renegades,The Ryddim Posse, Uprizin Band, Reggae Ambassadors, Roots Vibrations, The Dynamics{Which is an Old School R&B Group},The Saints{Old School R&B},Universal Xpression and most recently King Mellowman & Mellow Runnings(Which he also founded as his backing band). He has been acknowledged by his peers as the one African-American musical talent who lifted Reggae and Calypso music to the level of recognition and appreciation that it experiences today in the Detroit metro area. It has been said that as a solo artist King Mellowman is responsible for putting this form of music on the map in Detroit. He has performed as an opening act for such luminaries as:EEK-A-Mouse, Sister Carol, Junior Ried, Ken Boothe, Gregory Issacs, Mutabaruka,(The Dub Poet),Arrow (Soca King), Shabba Ranks, He has played drums for Sugar Minott, Leroy Gibbons, and Leroy Sibbles and has played keyboards for singing sensation Anthony Malvo and "The Godfather of Dancehall Reggae" U-Roy. Mellow has also had a candid interview with "The King of Dancehall Reggae" Winston (King Yellowman) Foster who is his idol and with whom he hopes to record with soon. He has contributed to studio performances for reggae sensation Frankie Paul, Josey Wales, Horace Andy, Sassafras, and Derrick Irie. Rap Group A.W.O.L. has also had their achievements in the studio enhanced by the assistance of Mellow. He has also collaborated with the Mighty Sparrow and was a backup performer for Calypso Rose. King Mellowman is a three time Metro Times Award winner. A five time Source Award winner, an a two time Detroit Music Award Nominee. King Mellowman has now formed a band called "Mellow Runnings" which consists of seasoned veterans such as: Mike "Drummy" Friedman{Drums}, Eric "Bassie" Mcnary {Bass}, Diana "Lady D" Mcnary {Rhythm & Lead Keyboards/Background Vocals},Tim a.k.a Ten "The Tenth Wonder Of The World" {Rhythm & Lead Keyboards}, Akil a.k.a "A.K."{Rhythm & Lead Guitar/Frontground Vocals}, Cathy "Let's Do This" Wright {Background Vocals}, and last but not least Shirley "Ola" Mason {Background Vocals}Mellow also features other singers such as "Queen Nosha." Now King Mellowman along with Mellow Runnings are ready to show the world that even though the runnings now a days are hard and tough, the music that King Mellowman & Mellow Runnings display can really make the "Runnings" smoothe and "Mellow".
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