Remembering Bluesman Bill

By Sue Sawyer

Almost 100 karaoke enthusiasts filled Johnny’s At Fife on July 14th to sing, pay tribute and enjoy stories about Bill Clark, known to everyone as “Bluesman Bill.”

Bill died on July 3rd from Cancer and stroke complications at 78 years of age. Bill was an avid karaoke singer and an ambassador to the artform. He was well known to all the clubs from Everett to Tacoma.

“Bill was one of those people that come into your life and really makes an impression”, says Candy Lynn who hosted Bill’s celebration of life.

Wendy, a longtime singing companion, used to travel with Bill to all his favorite shows and it appeared that all karaoke hosts were his “favorites” according to her and others who spoke about him. Bill enjoyed searching old music tapes for just the right instrumental arrangements to sing to and then he’d add karaoke graphics from his computer, long before jazz and blues karaoke tracs were offered for sale to the public. He enjoyed sharing his personal arrangements with friends.

Bill Clark was born in June of 1930 in New York City in the heart of Harlem, home of Blues and Jazz, and grew up tough during the great depression. When he was 13 years of age, the poem “INVICTUS” left such an impression on him he chose to live by it’s theme and couldn’t resist quoting passages of it all throughout his life.

After high school, Bill joined the Army with assignments in Alaska and Berlin. During his Berlin tour he met and married Ingrid with whom he had two sons and a daughter, Bobby, Mikey and Christina. The last 23 years of his long military career was spent at Ft. Lewis.

He then joined Airbourne Freight and stayed with the company until 1993. He spent his time as a seniors’ driving instructor for six years and also immersed himself in his music, going out almost every night until he became too weak from his stroke to travel.

Bill also leaves behind three Grandchildren; Ashley, Courtney and Alec.