Tony Clarke | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Ralph Thomas Williams |
Also known as | Tony Lois, Thelma Williams |
Born |
New York City, New York, USA |
April 13, 1940
Died | August 28, 1971 Detroit, Michigan, USA |
(aged 31)
Genres | Soul |
Occupation(s) | Musician, singer, songwriter |
Instruments | Vocals |
Years active | ?–1971 |
Labels | Chess |
Tony Clarke (April 13, 1940 – August 28, 1971) was an American soul singer-songwriter.
Clarke, born Ralph Thomas Williams in New York City, was raised in Detroit. He wrote the songs "Pushover" and "Two Sides to Every Story", hits for Etta James. Clarke scored a chart hit of his own with "The Entertainer" which hit #10 R&B and #31 Pop in the US in 1965. He died from getting shot by his wife. After his death, his career saw a resurgence in the 1970s on the United Kingdom's Northern soul scene particularly with his recording of "Landslide".