Today we’d like to introduce you to Cletis Carr
Hi Cletis, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My father’s side of the family were mostly musicians. As a kid, we’d all get together at summer reunions where everyone played and sang. So suppose music was always in my DNA. When I received my first songwriting royalty check at 17, I knew there was no looking back. My band found management, we had a brief shot at the “big time”, touring with my heroes, Tom Petty, Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, Huey Lewis, Joan Jett, so many more. Then it all imploded. So my career arc went: at age 19, record deal, 20, hit record, 21, lawsuit.
In spite of the setbacks, I found liberation. Over those years, I’d lived and played in L.A., New York, London, SE Asia, before finally settling in Australia. I found myself playing in bands with the guys from AC/DC, Rose Tattoo, INXS, all these Aussie legends. I had two children and juggled my solo career with my bands.
In the late 90’s, I moved to Nashville. I immediately felt a strong sense of community, of like-minded people who not only made their living in music, but who also lived their lives through their songs. Over the years, I drifted back and forth across the hemisphere but always found myself drawn back to Nashville.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
When one chooses the life of an artist – or it chooses you – the financial security that our society places such importance on isn’t as revelant. You learn to trust that your muse will somehow take care of you. And for me, I’m lucky that it has. I’ve very rarely had to work the proverbial “day job”, as I’ve sustained myself through music, be it performing, writing, teaching, studio or live sound engineering, working in instrument and record stores, and now, tour managing, booking, and event management.
I recently played a show where I was approached afterwards by a couple of people that I’d been to school with. They had gone the expected route – college degree, good jobs with big corporations. They were semi retired and financially comfortable, but yet, they envied the life I’d led. One said, “You were able to live your live on your own terms”, and I understood what that meant to someone from the outside. Not knowing of all the starving times, the near-bankruptcies, crashing on other’s couches and all we artists end up doing to, well, to be artists.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m proud of the body of work that I have. Twelve solo albums, a hundred commercially recorded songs that others have covered as well. I suppose I’d hoped to have had those one or two big hit songs that everybody knows. You see this particularly in a place like Nashville. But I’ve no regrets, we all make decisions, make our mistakes, and live by them.
I recently played an artist showcase in Australia, where I was billed as a “legend”. I laughed that the only thing that makes one a legend is managing to live long enough.
I do worry for the next generation of musicians. It seems there has been a steady devaluation of the arts in general,. The obvious elephant in the room is, of course, streaming and lack of hard copy music sales. But with fewer people actually getting out of the house as much as they did pre-pandemic, there are fewer live venues for singers and players to learn their craft and grow a following. There’s no easy solution, but I fear things will continue along this trend.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
In most towns and cities, there’s always a sense of community. But in Nashville, it’s very different, palpably so. Here, I find a deep and honest caring in each street and neighborhood. It’s almost as if the uglier things appear in this ever-changing world, the more people in Nashville turn toward one another for, and to, support.
On the negative side, I’m disappointed that after all these years, the transport infrastructure hasn’t been improved upon. And the land-grab by short term real estate speculators will have a negative longterm affect on generations to come.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://cletis.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cletiscarr/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cletiscarrmusic
- Twitter: https://bsky.app/profile/cletis.bsky.social
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CletisCarr
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/cletiscarr
- Other: https://allmylinks.com/cletiscarr
