Cowboy Jack Clement Dead at 82

A monumental member of the country music community has died. He was called "Cowboy".  Jack Clement produced hits for Johnny Cash, Charley Pride, Don Williams, Jerry Lee Lewis and a bunch more. His label JMI is where Don Williams got his start. Country Music Hall of Fame member Jack Clement died today after a long battle with cancer. The last time I saw him was at a restaurant in Nashville. That was just four years ago. I am glad I stopped and said hello.

Back in 1973 I visited his apartment in Nashville. He wasn't home. I was taken there by one of his associates to see his charming decor. I'll say. The living room had a tree in the corner with the branches stretching out across the ceiling and each of the thousands of leaves individually tied on. In one room was a tree house with wooden plank steps. He had a large light in the corner ceiling to recreate the impression of sunlight. And, his bedroom was lit with thousands of penlights to imitate the night sky and fluffy angel hair clouds were strewn across the ceiling. What a character!

When Waylon Jennings arrived in Nashville he called my boss in Lubbock, Texas, Sky Corbin and asked him to send him Jack Clement's Sun label recording of "Ten Years". I was the one who transferred it to tape. I love that song.

Taste of Country has more to say about Jack.

Elvis Presley, Dolly Parton, Kris Kristofferson, Garth Brooks … these four are just a few of the dozens of music superstars who worked with or recorded music written by Clement. In January, a tribute concert to him brought out stars like Bono, T Bone Burnett, First Lady Michelle Obama and former president Bill Clinton.

Born in 1931, Clement's musical career began in 1956. Soon after getting a job at Sun Records, he wisely recorded Jerry Lee Lewis when Sam Phillips was out of town. That song -- 'A Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On' -- would cement him as a more than capable producer.

As a songwriter, his hits include Cash's 'Ballad of a Teenage Queen,' Porter Wagoner and Parton's 'Just Someone I Used to Know,' Bobby Bare's 'Miller's Cave' and Waylon Jennings' 'Let's All Help the Cowboy.' Among his most important work may have been producing Charley Pride, an artist he convinced Chet Atkins to sign in the thick of the mid-'60s Civil Rights movement. The two worked together on 13 albums for RCA, the most powerful label in Nashville at the time.

Other famous contributions from Clement include arranging the horns on Cash's 'Ring of Fire' and pioneering a wild, live studio vibe for 'Great Balls of Fire.' His Jack's Tracks Studio is where Garth Brooks recorded most of his albums. A complete list of his well-known works would fill a book.

The Memphis-born singer ('All I Want to Do In Life,' 1978) served in the Marines before attending Memphis State University and landing work at Sun. In his later years, he became an artist in residence at the Country Music Hall of Fame and film producer and radio host on Outlaw Country, a channel on Sirius XM Radio.

“I’ve been a music bum all of my adult life,” Clement told American Songwriter. “Making music has always been my hobby and it still is. I’ve always said that we’re all in the fun business, and if we’re not having fun then we’re not doing our job.”

Clement is survived by a daughter named Allison and son named Niles. In April, he was announced as inductee for the 2013 class of the Country Music Hall of Fame. That ceremony is in October. Funeral service details have not been announced.

And, from our Townsquare Sister station i Lake Charles, Louisiana, Scott Lewis writes:

Legendary country music producer “Cowboy” Jack Clement passed away this week at the age of 82 after battling liver cancer.

Clement schooled studio protégés Garth Fundis, Allen Reynolds, Jim Rooney, Mark Reynolds and David Ferguson, men who who went on to work with Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, John Hartford, Nanci Griffith, Crystal Gayle, John Prine, Iris DeMent and others. Clement wrote Just Someone I Used to Know for Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton. He co-produced Angel of Harlem and When Love Comes To Town for international supergroup U2.  — USA Today

Thanks for the music, “Cowboy Jack.”