Allan Clarke (singer)
Harold Allan Clarke (born 5 April 1942) is an English rock singer, who was one of the founding members and the original lead singer of the Hollies. He achieved international hit singles with the group and is credited as co-writer on several of their best-known songs, including "On a Carousel", "Carrie Anne", "Jennifer Eccles" and "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress". He retired from performing in 1999, but returned to the music industry in 2019. Clarke was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010.
Allan Clarke
Harold Allan Clarke
5 April 1942
Salford, Lancashire, England
Musician
Vocals, guitar, harmonica
1958–1999, 2011, 2019–present
Temporary retirement and later re-emergence[edit]
Due in part to ongoing medical problems with his vocal cords, Clarke retired from the music industry in 1999 to care for his wife, who had received a second diagnosis of cancer.[2] Clarke was replaced in the band by Carl Wayne, former lead singer of the Move. Wayne died in 2004. The Hollies continue touring and recording today with Peter Howarth as their vocalist.
On 15 March 2010, Clarke, with fellow Hollies members Graham Nash, Tony Hicks, Eric Haydock, Bobby Elliott, Terry Sylvester and Bernie Calvert, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.[3] In 2011, Clarke made a surprise appearance at a Crosby & Nash concert at the Royal Albert Hall where the two former Hollies performed "Bus Stop".[4]
Having appeared on harmonica for Carla Olson's band The Textones in 2018,[5] Clarke made a return to his solo career in 2019 with a new album, Resurgence, on BMG.[2] He announced in January 2023 that he was working on his second solo album, titled, I'll Never Forget. It was released on April 7, 2023. Graham Nash sings harmony on 7 of the 11 songs.
Personal life[edit]
Clarke married Jennifer Bowstead on 24 March 1964 in Coventry. They have three children: Tim (born 1966), Toby (b. 1969) and Piper (b. 1972). The Hollies' song title "Jennifer Eccles" was a combination of the names of Clarke's wife and Graham Nash's then-wife, Rose Eccles.
▷===Appearances===