Many Bethel citizens have heard her music at festivals on the common. And many music lovers from other towns and even states have heard her yodel and strum the guitar. Jewel Clark, daughter of the famous Yodeling Slim Clark, carries on his talent and vision, and every day works to share his passion for the arts with her family, friends and the town of Bethel.

Name: Jewel Clark

Age: 63

Occupation: Artist, musician 

Hometown: Bethel

Relationship status: I threw my heart and soul at an extraordinary guitarist, singer and songwriter named Rolly York back in 1978 and am beyond thankful to say he eventually picked them up and has blessed me by holding onto them the last 39 years!

How long have you been performing? I’ve sung off and on throughout most of my life, but have never been very aggressive about consistently performing. I sang a bit as a teenager, and later was in a Top 40 band in the Lewiston-Auburn in the mid-’70s. In the ’80s I was part of some fine country bands and a fun rock’n’roll band. In the mid-’90s I began performing sometimes as a solo, part of a duo or sometimes with bands put together for specific occasions. Throughout the last 20 years, most of my performing has been as part of a duo with my dear friend, Donnie Katlin. 

You don’t just make music; you’re a painter as well? It’s sometimes difficult to describe my artistic endeavors. They venture anywhere from “decorative” painting, such as faux finishes, to custom blending on special projects, trompe l’oeil, murals, paintings, illustrations, some graphic design and hand “lettering,” although I primarily limit my lettering work to the Fryeburg Fairgrounds, where I’ve lettered on their buildings since 1998.

Your dad was Yodeling Slim Clark. How was it to grow up with a musician father? I cherished being my dad’s daughter! Even as a little child I realized he was unique, that his work as a musician and artist was unusual, and it felt so good to know he was admired by many people. Of course it was totally awesome going with him when he did his live “shows,” and to see how his audiences appreciated him, especially when he yodeled, which was truly amazing! Often the shows also included other really well-known country artists of that era such as Johnny Cash, June Carter, Carl Smith and Buck Owens. It was really a wonderful experience taking this all in from an “up close and personal” perspective. So many times throughout my adult life, people have come up to me and told of how they went to see and hear my dad at shows when they were young and how much it meant to them. They can get pretty emotional describing how sweet it was “back in the day”!

What made you want to make music in the genres you chose? Both my dad and mom were musical. My mom sang country music while my dad sang more of the “cowboy” and Western songs (and of course the yodeling), so their tastes had an obvious influence on me. Also, with my dad having a country music radio show, he brought home a lot of duplicate records and I listened to them. “Old” country music is what I heard most, and I think my natural vocals easily lean toward a country sound. I do like singing other types of music as well, however, especially blues and classic type of rock’n’roll.

Do any aspects of your personal life come out in your music? I’m sure my general moods at the time of any performances come through on some level. I also have written a number of songs — sometimes prompted from personal experience, but it’s certainly not always the case. 

Do you have a strong support system? Family, friends, community, etc? Yes. Bethel has always been wonderfully supportive of my music and art and I am fortunate to have caring friends who encourage what I do. I’m also thankful that most of my immediate family lives here as well. And although I feel they’re proud of my work in music and art, I think what they truly appreciate most are my roles as “Jewel, Mom and Grammie”! 

emarquis@sunmediagroup.net

Jewel Clark in 2009 during a fundraising event at Celebration Barn in South Paris.