Biography of Preacher Clark
"What the Hell?"
...history of the band
"Preacher Clark'...What the hell kind of name is that?"
Let me tell you...Two of the members of Preacher Clark grew up in St Charles, Missouri....a town where drinking and recreational fist fighting never
went out of style, regardless of the disapproving glares of the town's many debutantes. Josh Knight, singer/co-songwriter of the group, grew up hearing the stories of the 1950's . an era in which his father was a part . Durign that time, while in grade school, there were indisputable rumors that a young, African-American gent by the Nickname of "Hambone" was the toughest kid in town. A challenge came by the way of another muscle bound African-American lad known as Preacher Clark. One day after school,everyone gathered for the resolution. After a long brawl...and after the boys had beat on and bloodied each other...a victor walked away, toward his home near Blanchette Park. His name was Preacher Clark. The underdog had walked away the winner.
Preacher Clark, the band, also came out of St Charles, Missouri. The members were from very differrent back grounds, steered the band through various styles and line-ups, and came back to what they've known. Brian O'Connor, guitar player, played in the band prior to the time in which it bacame known as Mulligan Stew, a name he coined. His style of guitar playing not only brought the band's sound full circle time and time again, but has lead to many songs that represented Mulligan's Stew signature sound and carried into Preacher Clark. Brian has always been one of the Preacher's major songwriters and has written, recorded and played various venues and gigs since the band' inception. During Preacher's hiatus, which is discussed below, he wrote and recorded with the well known St Louis based band 'Super Crash'. He is currently a small businessman thought St Louis and St Charles , Missouri, continues to write music and play, and is in the process , outside of his business, of building a home studio in which to record Preacher and other bands in the area.
Chris Lee, drummer of the band, was a much more seasoned musician at the time he joined. Having moved to Missouri after playing and recording with major jazz and blues acts, including George Thoroughgood, he caught an add in the local paper for a drummer and called Josh to get a demo tape.
After giving it a listen, and adding his two cents, he has been a pillar of the band in all its variations. Playing his "three piece set" bought at a garage sale, he has dazzled everyone who has reviewed his chops. During a period when the band was in the process of reforming, various drummers listened to the tapes previously recorded, with one asking, "I'm assuming that this drum track was overdubbed with other drum tracks?"....WRONG! It was one drummer, a three piece set and one track. Since those recordings, Chris has continued to jam and record with major jazz and blues figures. He currently resides with his wife and daughter in the state of Minnesota and serves as a freelance musician and independent contractor connecting up-and-coming artists with both independent and major record labels.
Josh Knight, lyricist and co-songwriter of the band, has remained in St Charles, Missouri. A small businessman, like Brian, he has continued to write and play. Outside of his business, Josh has self-published six books of song lyrics and poetry and made attempts to find a small, local acting troupe to execute on stage his first play "Tap."
So "What the Hell?" Why are these old guys still around?" The answer is that the boys from St Charles love to write, love to play and believe that there are factors that should interfere with good music and an honest message. You can always point and laugh at the underdog...but sometimes the underdog wins...and the voice of the underdog is heard in the music of Preacher Clark.
...the music
"The four tracks on this website sound like folk rock, so I guess that's all they play"....WRONG!
The EP you are hearing , entilted "Dancing on Dirt Floors." was recorded by Brian,Chris, Josh, and Jim Tochtrop, guest bass player and engineer of the 400.00 dollar recording, in Jim's living room back in 1999. It is just now being released for interested listeners. The band, however, has a diverse set list of folk, alternative and down right garage band rock-n-roll. In fact, the band has a ctalogue of over 75 songs that are just waiting for the upstart of Brian's studio so that they can be properly recorded. Look for those "new" songs on this site in the near future.
...past, present and future of Preacher Clark
Since the recording of Dancin' on Dirt Floors" the band has taken an on-again, off-again hiatus for several reasons. Chris Lee moved from St Charles to MN. Brian and Josh married (not each other) and started businesses as well as families. Though Brian and Josh have continued to play and write together, the old days of playing out with Chris and negotiating their fee based on how many pitchers of beer they could get for the night, has fallen a bit by the wayside based on the changes in their lives (and their ages). Of course this doesn't mean that the boys have lost their fire and "ready to go" fervor. In fact, that period of settling down and recent reunion with Chris has ignited it all again. The band is continuing to write, ready to record and, as always, ready to slug it out like the underdog...like their namesake.
