Mahlon B. Clark

Mahlon Clark (March 7, 1923 – September 20, 2007) was an American musician who was a member of the Lawrence Welk orchestra from 1962 to 1968. His primary instrument was the clarinet.

Born and raised in Portsmouth, Virginia, Clark started out in vaudeville as a child. Later as a teenager, he became a big band musician playing for the Ray McKinley and Will Bradley bands, among others. Relocating to California during World War II, after serving in the armed forces, found employment at Paramount Pictures where he performed music on many movie soundtracks.

He was hired by Welk in 1962 to join his orchestra and his television show. For six years, he played both the clarinet and saxophone for a weekly national television audience and on stage when the Musical Family went out on tour. He was replaced by reedman Dave Edwards before the new TV taping sessions in 1968. After leaving the Welk organization, Clark continued to perform on many more movie soundtracks and with numerous artists such as Frank Sinatra and Madonna.

Birth and Death Data: Born March 7, 1923 (Portsmouth), Died September 20, 2007

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1951 - 1957

Roles Represented in DAHR: bass clarinet

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca L 6396 8/28/1951 Happiness is this Sonny Burke Orchestra instrumentalist, bass clarinet  
Decca L 6397 8/28/1951 Cocoanuts Sonny Burke Orchestra instrumentalist, bass clarinet  
Decca L 6398 8/28/1951 Mr. President Sonny Burke Orchestra instrumentalist, bass clarinet  
Decca L 6399 8/28/1951 Three cornered tune Sonny Burke Orchestra instrumentalist, bass clarinet  
Decca L 10668 12/16/1957 All the things you are Carmen McRae instrumentalist, bass clarinet  
Decca L 10669 12/16/1957 (What can I say) After I say I'm sorry Carmen McRae instrumentalist, bass clarinet  
Decca L 10670 12/16/1957 If I were a bell Carmen McRae instrumentalist, bass clarinet  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Clark, Mahlon B.," accessed April 19, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/113921.

Clark, Mahlon B.. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 19, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/113921.

"Clark, Mahlon B.." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 19 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/113921

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