Singer-songwriter Cletis Carr has one mantra: Play the song, rather than just the instrument. The American born roots rocker has been a careful student of the human condition and has developed a keen eye for a good story.
The success of his 70’s band Sneakers gave him the experience and confidence to launch a solo career that’s taken him all over the planet and has seen the release of five solo albums and numerous band projects.
Over the years, he’s toured and shared stages with the likes of Tom Petty, John Mellencamp, Chuck Berry, Elvis Costello, Joan Jett, Nick Lowe and Huey Lewis.
An intended brief vacation in Australia has now lasted over two decades as Carr found himself touring with members of AC/DC, Rose Tattoo, the Easybeats and the Saints. His bands Big Whiskey and Hillbilly Moon (with Paul Norton and the late Rose Tattoo legend, Peter Wells) were critical and commercial successes worldwide.
In the mid-90’s he started working behind the scenes first with an independent label, as a staff writer for Warner/Chappell, then as a producer of new artists for ABC/EMI. He moved to Nashville in the late 90’s and worked with Virgin and Capitol Records on various marketing campaigns as well as playing the usual songwriter haunts. He returned to Sydney and finished 2001 with a stint at Liberation Records.
After running two café / acoustic music venues, Carr is now returning to his recording career. Most of his back catalog is again available, and a collection of tracks from his Australian recordings is set for release shortly.
Cletis Carr lives in Sydney Australia , where he hosts a popular acoustic music session at the historic Bald Rock pub in Balmain. He was a contributing writer to the great, late Rockrgrl Magazine , is a passionate cook, and knows some great jokes. He tries to collect Australian wines, but they never seem to stay in the rack very long.
Performing "Please Don't Lose Me" in Sydney, March 2008
