H.R. No. 25
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Austin blues icon W. C. Clark passed away on
March 2, 2024, at the age of 84, bringing a great loss to his
family, his friends, and his many fans; and
WHEREAS, The son of Ida Mae Shelby and Curley B. Clark,
Wesley Curley Clark was born in Austin on November 16, 1939; when
his mother remarried, he gained a second father, Shedric Monk
Shelby, and he grew up with 11 siblings; he was only 12 when he began
playing guitar for a gospel quartet, and at 16, he made his debut on
the East Side blues scene; after playing with many of its stalwarts,
including T. D. Bell and Blues Boy Hubbard, he was discovered by Joe
Tex and joined the soul star's touring band; and
WHEREAS, Returning to Austin in the 1970s, Mr. Clark became a
pillar of a vibrant music scene on the west side; a gifted bassist
and vocalist as well as guitar slinger, he formed the Triple Threat
Revue with Lou Ann Barton and Stevie Ray Vaughan; he also influenced
and mentored such artists as Jimmie Vaughan, Angela Strehli, and
Charlie and Will Sexton, earning the nickname "the Godfather of
Austin blues"; in the 1980s, he launched the W. C. Clark Blues
Revue, which he would lead for nearly four decades; along the way,
he supplemented his income as an auto mechanic and carpenter;
although he cowrote "Cold Shot," which became an enormous hit for
Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble, Mr. Clark first rose to
national prominence himself with an all-star Austin City Limits
show celebrating his 50th birthday; a few years later, he signed
with Blacktop Records and released a series of acclaimed albums,
among them From Austin with Soul, on the Alligator label; he
garnered numerous accolades, most notably prestigious W. C. Handy
Blues Awards in several categories; he won various Austin Music
Awards as well, and he was inducted into the Austin Music Hall of
Fame; his fans loved his warmth, kindness, and sense of humor, as
well as his musical gifts, and he continued to play for them
throughout his lifetime; in his last years, he held a popular weekly
residency at Giddy Ups in South Austin; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Clark was the father of a son, Carl, who died in
2013, and a daughter, Brittany; he eventually became a grandfather
and great-grandfather, and he shared enduring friendships with his
former wives, Helen Clark and Kathy Wells; devoted to his large
extended family and many friends, he was always ready to lend them a
helping hand; he was deeply spiritual and a lifelong member of
St. John's College Heights Missionary Baptist Church; and
WHEREAS, W. C. Clark left an indelible imprint on Texas
music, and he will forever hold a treasured place in the hearts of
all who were fortunate enough to know him; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of W. C. Clark and extend
sincere condolences to his family, his friends, and all who mourn
his passing; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of W. C.
Clark.
Cole
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 25 was unanimously adopted by a rising
vote of the House on March 6, 2025.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House