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Key Information

Louis Clark (27 February 1947 – 13 February 2021) was an English music arranger and keyboard player. He trained at Leeds College of Music. He is best known for his work with Electric Light Orchestra and Hooked on Classics. Clark started out as a bass guitarist for Birmingham band The Buccaneers, who later became Monopoly and eventually The Raymond Froggatt Band.[1]

Electric Light Orchestra

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Clark in 2018 at the soundcheck of The Orchestra

Clark was the conductor and arranger of the orchestra and choir hired to back Electric Light Orchestra's sound, introduced on their album Eldorado in 1974. He assisted Jeff Lynne and Richard Tandy in writing the string arrangements for the studio albums Eldorado, Face the Music, A New World Record, Out of the Blue, Discovery and Xanadu. He later played synthesizers for ELO during their Time tour. In 1983 he returned to arranging and conducting the strings on the Secret Messages album, and in 1986 he played keyboards again with the band on their small number of live dates.

Clark was likewise an affiliate of the ELO spinoff band ELO Part II for much of its lifespan, contributing string arrangements to both of the group's studio albums during the 1990s and participating in its live performances as a keyboardist and orchestral conductor. Upon Part II's rebranding as The Orchestra in 2000, Clark (now a full-time member) remained with the group, his involvement continuing until his death in 2021. His son, Louis Clark Jr., continues to perform with The Orchestra into the present day.

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

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In 1977, Clark arranged the music of Renaissance for their Albert Hall concert with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) and two songs on Annie Haslam's debut solo album Annie in Wonderland.

In the early 1980s, he conducted the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra on a series of records under the title Hooked on Classics. In 1985, he again worked with Renaissance singer Annie Haslam and the band's lyricist Betty Thatcher with the RPO to produce the album Still Life. In 1982, he released the album The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Plays the Queen Collection, recorded by the Solid Rock Foundation. In 1983, he released the album The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Plays Beatles Collection, recorded by the Solid Rock Foundation, at the 20th Concerto Anniversary of The Beatles, having as guest artists Joan Collins, Elena Duran, Honor Hefferman and Roy Wood.

English Pops Orchestra

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In 2011 Louis Clark was made president of the English Pops Orchestra, and returned to performing Hooked on Classics 'LIVE' with the EPO using many of the players that recorded the original albums.

Library music for television, commercials and radio

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From the late 70's and through the 80's Clark composed library music for the production company Bruton Music. Some of the music was, and sometimes still is, used for television, TV commercials (Cadbury's Flake, Nescafe) and radio (jingles for LBC). In 1980 he arranged the strings for the songs in the film The Apple, a musical that was critically derided as one of the worst films ever made but has since gained cult status.

Death

[edit]

Louis Clark died on 13 February 2021 in Elyria, Ohio, fourteen days short from his 74th birthday. His death at the age of 73 was announced by his wife, Gloria, on his Facebook page. No cause of death was revealed, but he had been ill for months and had suffered from kidney issues.[2][3][4][5] In her post announcing his death, his wife Gloria wrote, "He passed very peacefully surrounded by love. This morning he watched Premier League soccer and listened to The Beatles, two things he loved. This afternoon I told him I loved him, he said I love you too, and we kissed. He was gone five minutes later. We love this man forever and always. He was a good man, loved by many and will be greatly missed by all. We want to thank family, friends and fans who have always loved and supported him."[6][5]

Other associated acts

[edit]

Besides ELO, Louis Clark worked as an arranger for many other rock and pop artists:

With Roy Orbison

With Ozzy Osbourne

With Roy Wood

With Kelly Groucutt

With America

With Kiki Dee

With Carl Wayne

  • Deeper than Love (Jet Records, 1982)[9][10]
  • Midnight Blue (Jet Records, 1982)[9][10]

With Juan Martin

  • Serenade, Love Theme From The Thorn Birds (WEA Records, 1984)[11]

With Asia

With Mike Berry

  • I'm a Rocker (Scramble Records, 1977)

With Simone

  • Flattery (Spiral Records, 1977)

With Annie Haslam

With Renaissance

  • A Song for All Seasons (1978)
  • Live at the Royal Albert Hall (King Biscuit Flower Hour Records, 1997)

With City Boy

  • Book Early (Vertigo Records, 1978)[7]
  • The Day the Earth Caught Fire (Vertigo Records, 1979)

Among others are UB40, Jon Spencer, Iris Williams and more recently Air Supply.

Discography

[edit]

Sourced from Louis Clark's official website – all albums performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra unless otherwise stated.

  • (per-spek-tiv) n. (Jet 218, 1979)
  • Hooked on Classics (K-Tel One 1146, 1981)
  • The Queen Collection (EMI TV33, 1982 and MFP 41 5673 1, 1982)
  • Hooked on Classics 2: Can't Stop the Classics (K-Tel One 1173, 1983), later releases were subtitled "Can't Stop the Classics"
  • Hooked on Classics 3: Journey Through the Classics (K-Tel One 1226, 1983), later releases were subtitled "Journey Through the Classics"
  • The Beatles 20th Anniversary Concert (Spartan SRFC1001, 1983)
  • Best of Hooked on Classics (K-Tel One 2266, 1984)
  • Great Hits from Hooked on Classics (Pickwick SHM3158, 1985)
  • Still Life (Spartan LCTV1, 1985) featuring vocals by Annie Haslam and lyrics by Betty Thatcher
  • Favourite Classics (Spartan SLCLP2, 1986)
  • Hooked on Classics Collection (K-Tel 5107, 1986)
  • The Very Best of Hooked on Classics (Pickwick PWKS 4017, 1986)
    • Later release: (K-Tel EMC2006, 1992)
  • Abbaphonic (Disky AC202, 1987 and Disky DLP2007, 1987)
    • Later released as Classic Abba (Icon ICONCD002, 1992), The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Plays Abba (Disky DCD 5246, 1992; Emporio EMPRCD585, 1995; Disky INS 855362, 1999), The Music of ABBA (Hallmark 301372, 1995)
  • Beatlephonic (Disky DLP2015, 1987)
    • Later released as The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra plays The Beatles (Disky DCD5255, 1992; Disky INS 855372, 1999)
  • Hooked on Rhythm & Classics (Telstar 2344, 1988)
    • Later re-released with an extra track as The Classics in Rhythm (Arista ARCD-8588, 1989), and as Hooked on Rhythm and Classics (Pickwick PWKS 4223, 1994)
  • Hooked on Classics: The Ultimate Performance (K-Tel OCE2432, 1989)
  • Legends (Union LP1, 1989)
  • Seriously Orchestral Hits of Philadelphia Phil Collins (EDL 2555-1, 1990; Virgin RPOMC1, 1991; EDL 2555-2, 1993)
  • Hooked on Hooked on Classics (Music Club MCTC003, 1991)
  • Hooked on Classics X-tra Collection Vol 1 (ELAP 4718, 1991)
  • Hooked on Classics X-tra Collection Vol 2 (ELAP 4719, 1991)
  • The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Plays Queen (Disky DCD 5256, 1992)
  • The Two Sides of Louis Clark: Rock Legends and Favourite Classics (Westmore Music CDWM108, 1993)
  • Instrumental Classics (K-Tel ECD 3025, 1994)
    • Also released as Hooked on Instrumental Classics (K-Tel 6133-2, 1994), albeit in a different track order and with an extra track.
  • The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Plays Pop Legends (Disky DCD 5381, 1994)
  • More Hooked on Classics (Music Club MCCD 369, 1998)

Compilations:

  • Open Space: The Classic Chillout Album (Columbia 504690-2, 2001)
  • The New Classic Chillout Album: From Dusk Til Dawn (Sony STVCD148, 2002)

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Louis Clark

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from Grokipedia
Louis Clark (27 February 1947 – 13 February 2021) was an English musician, arranger, keyboard player, and conductor renowned for his orchestral contributions to the (ELO) and for leading the (RPO) on the multimillion-selling album series, which blended with pop sensibilities to bring symphonic works to a broader audience. Born in , , to a bricklayer father and a of Swiss-Polish heritage, Clark initially played in local bands before, at age 24, enrolling at the College of Music (now ) to study orchestration and arranging. He joined ELO in 1974 as an arranger and keyboardist, providing the lush string and brass arrangements that defined the band's sound during its commercial peak, including albums such as Eldorado (1974), Face the Music (1975), (1976), Out of the Blue (1977), Discovery (1979), Xanadu (1980), and (1983). His work extended to collaborations with artists like , , and Roy Orbison, and he released a solo album, (Per-spek-tiv) n., in 1979. In the early 1980s, Clark took on the role of conductor for the RPO, which was facing financial collapse; his innovative Hooked on Classics project, released in by K-tel, featured medleys of classical pieces performed with rock rhythms and reached No. 4 on the , while the title single peaked at No. 2 in the UK and No. 10 in the US, ultimately selling millions and stabilizing the orchestra through extensive touring and sequels. After ELO's breakup in 1986, he joined as musical director with drummer , continuing to tour and record orchestral rock until the group's transition in 2000, and later performed with The Orchestra, a collective of former ELO members. Clark, who had relocated to in later years and was married twice with three children, died on 13 February 2021 at age 73 after a short illness related to , with his final performance occurring in March 2020.

Early life and education

Childhood and family background

Louis Clark was born on 27 February 1947 in , , . He was the third child of Francis Clark, a , and Anna Clark (née Ruoss), a maid of Swiss and Polish heritage who had immigrated to before . The family embodied the working-class ethos common in post-war Britain, where economic recovery from wartime hardships shaped modest, industrious lives. Tragedy struck early when Clark's mother died during when he was two years old, leaving the family fractured. In the aftermath, young Louis was sent to live with his aunt Nancy in , , a in the rural West Midlands, while his siblings were placed in . This relocation from the urban environs of to the quieter, community-oriented setting of provided the backdrop for his early years amid the austere socio-economic conditions of 1950s , marked by rationing's lingering effects and rebuilding efforts. Clark's initial exposure to music came through the cultural shifts of the era, particularly the revolution sparked by in the early , which captivated local communities across Britain. As a teenager in , he was gripped by the ' emergence, later recalling, “The came out and that was it... I went out and bought a and taught myself how to play it.” This self-directed engagement with contemporary music, absent any formal training at the time, reflected the grassroots enthusiasm of working-class youth in provincial , where access to instruments and records often came through personal initiative rather than familial tradition.

Musical training and early influences

Louis Clark attended Bridgnorth Grammar School in Shropshire, where he began his musical education in his teens through lessons in and viola. Captivated by the pop music explosion of the , particularly during the era, he developed an initial interest in , purchasing one and teaching himself to play without formal instruction. In 1971, at the age of 24, Clark enrolled as a mature student at the College of Music (now ), pursuing a three-year full-time course focused on composition, , , and keyboards. He graduated with a degree specializing in and arranging, which honed his technical skills in blending diverse musical elements. Clark's early influences drew from the pop-rock fusion trends of the , including the innovative sounds of , which sparked his passion for integrating classical structures with contemporary rhythms and harmonies. This interest in genre-blending, evident from his school years, deepened during his college training.

Early career

Work with local bands

Clark began his professional music career in the late 1960s as a bass guitarist with the Birmingham-based band , shortly after completing his A-levels and relocating from . Inspired by , he taught himself to play specifically to join the group, which specialized in beat and reflective of the era's influence. The evolved through a to Monopoly before fully transitioning into The Raymond Froggatt Band in 1969, effectively marking the end of the original lineup's run. With The Band, Clark continued on bass, participating in live performances and regional tours throughout the , where the group built a dedicated local following through club and theater gigs. The band, fronted by singer-songwriter , released ten singles and two albums on during this period, including efforts that blended rock and emerging country influences, but encountered significant hurdles in achieving broader recognition. Despite the persistent challenges of limited commercial success—such as the failure to secure major despite steady releases—these formative years sharpened Clark's versatility as a , as he expanded beyond bass to experiment with keyboards and basic arranging while navigating the band's demanding schedule. Around 1970, he secured his first paid session work in studios, contributing to projects like string arrangements for an unreleased musical at De Lane Lea, which introduced him to professional recording environments. These early experiences laid the groundwork for his subsequent transition into arranging and session roles.

Transition to arranging and session work

In the early 1970s, following his performing role with the Band, Louis Clark shifted focus to arranging after enrolling at the College of Music in 1971 to study composition, , , and keyboards. This formal training enabled his entry into freelance arranging, with his initial credits including string arrangements for local artists and demos, notably for a musical adaptation of Shakespeare recorded at . Clark's session work during this period encompassed roles as both keyboardist and arranger for emerging UK acts, such as , America, , and , where he contributed orchestral elements to tracks including singles and B-sides that helped define their early sound. His immersion in the London music scene through these freelance opportunities fostered key professional networks, including an encounter with producer at during the Froggatt project, laying groundwork for subsequent orchestral collaborations.

Association with Electric Light Orchestra

Initial collaboration and role

Louis Clark's first involvement with came in 1974 during the recording of their album Eldorado at in . While working on string arrangements for a musical project by , Clark caught the attention of ELO leader , who was producing the album in the same facility and admired his orchestral expertise. Lynne promptly recruited Clark to handle the string arrangements, marking ELO's first use of a full rather than multitracked strings by band members. In his initial role, Clark served as the arranger and conductor for a 30-piece and choir, collaborating closely with Lynne and keyboardist to co-arrange the orchestral elements. He attended recording sessions to compose the orchestral parts, integrating classical flourishes into the rock framework to realize Lynne's vision for a symphonic sound. This positioned Clark as a hired specialist, brought in specifically to elevate the album's production without being a core band member. Clark's contributions extended to ELO's early touring efforts following Eldorado's release, where he conducted the onstage and occasionally contributed on keyboards to support the live performances. His work laid the groundwork for orchestral expansions in subsequent ELO albums.

Key albums and tours

Louis Clark's contributions to Electric Light Orchestra's (ELO) Out of the Blue (1977) marked a pinnacle of his orchestral arranging work with the band, where he co-arranged and conducted the strings, choir, and brass sections alongside and . His string arrangements added a lush, symphonic depth to tracks like "Turn to Stone," enhancing the album's blend of rock and classical elements and contributing to its commercial success, reaching the Top 10 in both the and . For ELO's ambitious 1978 world tour supporting Out of the Blue, Clark served as conductor for the orchestra, overseeing strings and that were dramatically lowered onto the stage via a spaceship prop. The setup required innovative staging to integrate the live ensemble with the band's rock performance, but it presented significant logistical challenges across international dates. Clark briefly stepped away from ELO's studio work for the 1981 album Time but returned for its tour, playing keyboards and string synthesizers to replicate orchestral textures in a more compact live format. He rejoined the band fully for (1983), conducting live strings on tracks such as "Rock 'n' Roll Is King" to integrate them seamlessly with the album's prominent synthesizer layers, a shift reflecting ELO's evolving sound in the synth-heavy . This orchestral-synth fusion maintained the band's signature hybrid style while adapting to contemporary production trends. Clark departed from ELO in 1985 amid band changes that reduced the orchestra's size and emphasized synthesizers over live ensembles, though he continued touring with them until 1986. These orchestral techniques paralleled those Clark later employed in his projects, emphasizing dynamic rock-classical interplay.

Work with Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Hooked on Classics series

In 1981, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Louis Clark, released Hooked on Classics, a groundbreaking classical crossover album commissioned by the compilation label K-tel and produced by Don Reedman. Drawing inspiration from disco medleys such as Meco's Star Wars and Other Galactic Funk, the project aimed to revitalize classical music for pop audiences by seamlessly blending short excerpts from renowned compositions— including works by Tchaikovsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, Mozart, Gershwin, and Sibelius—into upbeat tracks infused with disco rhythms. Clark, leveraging his experience as an orchestral arranger, orchestrated the medleys to create continuous, energetic flows that transitioned smoothly between pieces, resulting in the album's title track becoming a standout single that peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 2 on the UK Singles Chart. The series quickly expanded with follow-up volumes, including in 1982, which featured medleys of and romantic era works, and in 1983, focusing on lyrical, love-themed classical selections. These maintained the innovative format, with Clark the Philharmonic Orchestra to deliver polished performances that charted notably; for instance, the original album reached number 4 on the US , while the single from Hooked on Classics 2 entered the Top 40. In the , the debut album itself peaked at number 39 on the Official Chart but sustained interest over four weeks. Clark's orchestration techniques emphasized accessibility, such as accelerating tempos on traditionally stately passages to align with pop's driving pulse, while preserving the orchestral texture through precise and brass layering. This approach not only hooked younger listeners but also popularized classical snippets in , with the series ultimately selling over 15 million copies worldwide and introducing generations to composers like Beethoven and Bach through K-tel's aggressive television marketing. The phenomenon marked a pivotal moment in classical crossover, broadening the genre's appeal beyond elite concert halls and influencing subsequent hybrid projects.

Other orchestral projects

In addition to the Hooked on Classics series, Louis Clark collaborated with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) on various arrangements and productions that blended popular music with orchestral elements. One significant project was his orchestral arrangements for Renaissance's 1978 album A Song for All Seasons, where he crafted integrations of progressive rock instrumentation with sweeping string and brass sections, enhancing tracks like "Can You Understand" and "The Sisters," performed by session orchestras under his direction. Clark's work with the RPO in the early 1980s included conducting the orchestra for the live album The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Plays The Queen Collection (1982), recorded at the Royal Albert Hall on December 8, 1981, which featured symphonic reinterpretations of Queen's hits such as "," "," and "," incorporating the Royal Choral Society for added choral depth. In recognition of his contributions, Clark was appointed an honorary member of the RPO in 1983. Further highlighting his production role, Clark helmed the 1985 album with the RPO and the Royal Choral Society, featuring vocalist on select tracks; the recording presented orchestral arrangements of classical compositions by Bach, Tchaikovsky, Fauré, and others, such as "" and "," emphasizing lush, emotive interpretations with vocal and choral overlays. Throughout the decade, Clark made several guest conducting appearances with the RPO, including the 1987 release Plays The Beatles 20th Anniversary Concert, a symphonic tribute to ' catalog with medley-style arrangements of songs like "Yesterday," "," and "Let It Be," again involving the Royal Choral Society to amplify the ensemble's dramatic impact. These projects underscored Clark's expertise in fusing contemporary genres with orchestral traditions, expanding the RPO's repertoire into pop and rock domains.

Other musical endeavors

Library music compositions

In the late 1970s, Louis Clark began composing for the Bruton Music library, a prominent British production music catalog founded in 1977 and known for its versatile orchestral and electronic cues tailored for media applications. His contributions included dramatic orchestral pieces suitable for television and advertisements, such as suspenseful string arrangements and energetic themes designed for emotional impact in short-form content. Representative examples of Clark's work encompass the full composition of the "Drive" section in Bruton Music's BRJ 19 Drive/The Living City (1980), which featured urban-inspired orchestral tracks evoking life and movement for visual media. Similarly, (BRN 6, 1980) provided modular cues like "Transworld Communication" for and promotional visuals, while Building Tension (BRM 6, 1981) offered light dramatic strings and building motifs ideal for commercials. For radio, Clark contributed to jingle series such as (BRB 9, 1981) and (BRB 10, 1981), featuring concise, upbeat orchestral snippets for station IDs and transitions. These compositions employed techniques common to library music production, including modular arrangements where segments could be isolated, looped, or recombined to create , adaptable soundbeds for diverse contexts without additional licensing fees. This approach ensured versatility, allowing producers to edit cues for specific timings in ads or broadcasts. Clark's later Market Leaders (1983) extended this style with professional-themed for corporate and promotional use. Bruton Music's catalog, including Clark's output, saw extensive application in British television, such as incidental music for documentaries and test patterns, and was licensed internationally through partnerships like Universal Production Music for global media projects. Such functional, anonymous production honed Clark's skills in versatile , which later informed his arrangements.

Arrangements for artists and soundtracks

Throughout the and , Louis Clark undertook freelance arranging and conducting work for various pop and rock artists, often incorporating orchestral elements into contemporary recordings. His contributions extended his expertise in blending classical textures with , a style honed through earlier library compositions. One notable project was his string arrangements for Roy Orbison's posthumously released album (1989), where Clark conducted the strings to enrich the emotional depth of ballads such as "" and "." These arrangements provided a lush, orchestral backdrop that complemented Orbison's vocal style during his late-career resurgence. Clark also added orchestral layers to heavy metal tracks by in the early 1980s. On Diary of a Madman (1981), he provided string arrangements for the title track "Diary of a Madman," adding sweeping symphonic elements to the epic closer. Similarly, for Bark at the Moon (1983), Clark arranged the for the "So Tired," contrasting Osbourne's raw intensity with delicate, melodic . In scoring, Clark contributed to the of the musical The Apple (1980), where he arranged the strings for its songs and conducted the , enhancing the futuristic pop-disco tracks with orchestral flourishes despite the film's critical reception. Beyond these, Clark's session work in the late included arrangements for pop and progressive acts, such as orchestral support for Annie Haslam's solo album Annie in Wonderland (1977) and strings for Kiki Dee's recordings, showcasing his versatility in elevating vocal-driven pop with symphonic arrangements. He also worked with American band America on tracks from their 1980s output, applying similar orchestral enhancements.

Later career

ELO Part II and The Orchestra

In 1991, Louis Clark was recruited as musical director for , a group founded by former drummer following legal disputes over the ELO name with . Building on his prior experience arranging and conducting strings for the original ELO, Clark handled orchestral keyboards and string arrangements for the band's debut album, Electric Light Orchestra Part Two, released that year. His contributions helped recreate the symphonic rock sound associated with ELO while adapting it to the new lineup. Clark continued arranging and conducting for ELO Part II's subsequent projects, including their second studio album, Moment of Truth, released in 1994, where he provided orchestral keyboards and arrangements for several tracks. He also led orchestrations for the band's international tours in the , , and , notably writing arrangements for a 1990s featuring the Symphony Orchestra. These efforts maintained the group's emphasis on blending rock with classical elements during live performances. By the early 2000s, amid ongoing legal challenges from regarding the ELO trademark, transitioned into a successor group known as The Orchestra, with Clark serving as keyboards player, orchestral arranger, and conductor from 2000 onward. This rebranding allowed the ensemble—featuring former ELO members like violinist and bassist —to continue touring without infringement disputes, preserving a distinct creative path from Lynne's version of ELO. Due to illness from 2015 onward, Clark's son Louis Clark Jr. occasionally deputised for him during tours. Clark's expertise provided a stabilizing influence, ensuring the orchestral fidelity that defined the group's identity through performances across the and until his final appearance in March 2020.

Solo and independent projects

In 1979, Clark released his debut solo album, (Per-spek-tiv) n., a symphonic progressive rock recording featuring original instrumental compositions that blended experimental fusion elements with orchestral arrangements, including frenetic electric guitar riffs, intense violin passages, and poignant wind instrument solos across a two-part suite structure. The album, issued on Jet Records, showcased Clark's compositional skills independent of his orchestral collaborations, with tracks like "Escape" and "The Long Trek" evoking a narrative journey through dynamic musical landscapes. Throughout the 1980s, Clark pursued independent conducting opportunities, including his American debut on July 4, 1982, where he led a 60-piece American Symphony Orchestra in an Independence Day concert on the Atlantic City beach before an audience of 100,000, performing medleys inspired by his Hooked on Classics series. This high-profile event highlighted his ability to helm large-scale outdoor performances, building on his prior experience conducting at London's Royal Albert Hall earlier that year. In the 2010s, Clark took on leadership roles in smaller ensembles, becoming president of the English Pops Orchestra in 2011 and directing live performances of light music medleys, including revivals of classical-pop fusions like . These concerts, such as the 2014 event at Priory Park in Southend, , emphasized his ongoing commitment to accessible orchestral programming through independent productions. Post-2000, Clark contributed to digital reissues and archival efforts, including compilations of his earlier works made available on streaming platforms, though he focused primarily on live conducting rather than new studio recordings.

Personal life

Marriages and family

Louis Clark married Jocelyn Carter in 1971, and the couple had two children: a son, Louis Clark Jr., born that year, and a daughter, Jemma, born in 1974. The marriage ended in divorce. In 1986, Clark married Gloria Bentley after a period of long-distance relationship, and their daughter, Rachel Clark, was born in 1991. Clark's family provided significant support during his extensive career travels, with his children occasionally participating in musical activities; for instance, in 2015, son Louis Jr. stepped in to help manage The Orchestra tour when Clark fell ill. Louis Jr. also shared a keen interest in music, often engaging with his father's original Electric Light Orchestra scores alongside the family. At the time of his death in 2021, Clark was survived by his wife Gloria, who announced his passing, along with his three children and two grandchildren, Loretta Roberts and John Roberts, children of Jemma Clark Roberts.

Life in the United States

In the late 1980s, following his marriage to Gloria in 1986, Louis Clark relocated to the United States, initially dividing time between homes in London and Elyria, Ohio, before settling full-time in Elyria in 1994. This move came after a long-distance courtship that began during an ELO tour in the early 1980s, marking a significant shift from his British roots to establishing a permanent base in northern Ohio. Clark adapted to the U.S. music scene by maintaining his international touring commitments while using Elyria as a stable home base, which facilitated his work with and later The Orchestra, groups of former ELO members. Local performances were infrequent; his last show in northern prior to the occurred in the at a venue, though he occasionally performed nearby, such as a at the Cleveland Masonic Auditorium. He lived a low-key life in Elyria, often described as the "rock-legend-next-door," frequenting local spots like Smitty's Place pub and hosting bandmates like violinist during visits. During the , Clark's residence in Elyria contributed to greater family stability, allowing him to balance global tours with a grounded domestic routine in amid his ongoing musical endeavors. This U.S.-based lifestyle supported his continued involvement in orchestral rock performances until the late , providing a contrast to his earlier nomadic touring years.

Death and legacy

Final illness

In late 2020, Clark's health began to fail, limiting his professional activities and resulting in the curtailment of his touring commitments with The Orchestra. He received care in Elyria, Ohio, where he resided, with support from his family during this period. His wife, Gloria, announced his passing on February 13, 2021, via his son's Facebook page, noting that he had died peacefully at age 73 from a suspected stroke.

Tributes and impact

Following Louis Clark's death on 13 February 2021, obituaries highlighted his pivotal role in blending orchestral elements with rock and pop, particularly through his arrangements for Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) and the innovative Hooked on Classics series. The Guardian's obituary praised Clark's orchestration for ELO albums such as Eldorado (1974), A New World Record (1976), Out of the Blue (1977), and Discovery (1979), noting that his work formed the "core" of the band's sound, contributing to hits like "Evil Woman" and "Mr Blue Sky" and helping ELO achieve more combined UK and US Top 40 hits than any other band from 1972 to 1986. It also lauded Hooked on Classics (1981), conducted with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, for fusing classical themes with rock beats in a medley format, which peaked at No. 4 in the UK and sold millions worldwide, effectively rescuing the orchestra from financial distress and earning Clark honorary membership in 1983. Tributes from musical peers underscored Clark's orchestral expertise and lasting contributions. ELO co-founder and drummer , reflecting on in a , described the album's "lovely orchestral opening" as a highlight and paid respects to Clark as "the great Louis Clark," emphasizing his integral role in the band's symphonic style. Members of The Orchestra—comprising former ELO and musicians including violinist —issued a statement calling Clark "our quiet brother... a genius string arranger and , one of the best ever," adding that his arrangements continue to be performed live as "a living, breathing testament to his greatness." Clark's innovations in pop-classical fusion have had an enduring cultural impact, popularizing orchestral medleys and introducing a broad audience to through accessible, upbeat arrangements. The Hooked on Classics series, which sold over 10 million copies globally, exemplified this by reimagining works from composers like Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, and Rossini alongside contemporary rhythms, influencing the classical crossover genre's development and inspiring later productions that merge symphonic elements with . His ELO orchestrations similarly set a benchmark for rock-orchestra integration, with elements echoed in modern ensemble performances by groups like The , which preserve his scores. In 2025, The Orchestra released the documentary No Rewind, featuring exclusive footage and highlighting Clark's contributions, with his son Louis Clark Jr. involved as a band member. A memorial concert was held in Birmingham in November 2025. In the wake of his passing, family friend Sara Sharick announced plans for a biography detailing Clark's life and career, based on extensive research into his personal and professional journey.

Discography

Conducted and arranged albums

Louis Clark gained prominence as a conductor and arranger through his work on the Hooked on Classics series, a groundbreaking classical crossover project that fused medleys of famous orchestral themes with pop and disco rhythms, performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO). Released between 1981 and 1985, the series featured Clark as the primary arranger and conductor, blending snippets from composers like Bach, Mozart, and Tchaikovsky into energetic, hook-driven tracks. The debut album, Hooked on Classics (1981), included standout medleys such as "Hooked on Classics Parts 1 & 2" (excerpts from Rossini's William Tell Overture, Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, and Offenbach's Can-Can), "Hooked on Romance" (drawing from Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff), and "Hooked on Bach" (from the Brandenburg Concertos and Toccata and Fugue in D Minor). It achieved commercial success, peaking at number 4 on the US Billboard 200 chart and number 4 on the UK Albums Chart, while the lead single reached number 2 on the UK Singles Chart and number 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Subsequent installments built on this formula. Hooked on Classics 2: Can't Stop the Classics (1982) highlighted tracks like "Can't Stop the Classics" (medley of waltzes and arias) and "Hooked on America" (incorporating Gershwin's ), peaking at number 33 on the US . Hooked on Classics 3: Journey Through the Classics (1983) featured "Journey Through the Classics" (selections from Beethoven and Haydn) and "Viva Vivaldi" (from The Four Seasons), reaching number 89 on the US and number 19 on the . The series concluded with Hooked on & (1985), where Clark arranged fusion tracks blending classical motifs with contemporary beats, though it received less attention. Overall, the albums sold millions worldwide, introducing orchestral music to pop audiences through Clark's innovative arrangements. Clark's orchestral expertise also shaped several Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) albums, where he served as the primary arranger and conductor for the string sections and choir, enhancing the band's symphonic rock sound. On Eldorado (1974), his debut with ELO, Clark arranged and conducted the strings on tracks like the title suite, contributing to the album's conceptual orchestral depth. For Out of the Blue (1977), a double album that topped the UK Albums Chart and reached number 4 on the US Billboard 200, Clark conducted the 24-piece orchestra on hits such as "Turn to Stone" and "Mr. Blue Sky," integrating lush string arrangements with rock elements. He returned for Secret Messages (1983), arranging and conducting the choir and orchestra on songs like the title track, supporting the album's number 16 US Billboard 200 peak. With the RPO, Clark led tribute-style albums that reinterpreted popular music through classical lenses. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Plays the Queen Collection (1982), conducted and arranged by Clark with the Royal Choral Society, featured orchestral versions of Queen's hits including "Bohemian Rhapsody," "We Are the Champions," and "Flash," capturing the band's dramatic flair in symphonic form. Still Life (1985), another RPO project under Clark's direction with the Royal Choral Society and guest vocalist Annie Haslam, offered contemplative arrangements of classical pieces like Bach's Air from the Orchestral Suite No. 3 (as "Still Life") and Tchaikovsky's Adagio Cantabile (as "Forever Bound"), emphasizing serene, vocal-enhanced interpretations. In the 1990s, Clark contributed to ELO Part II's Moment of Truth (), where he handled orchestral arrangements and keyboards, co-writing the and infusing tracks like "Power of a Million Lights" and "One More Tomorrow" with ELO's signature symphonic style; the album also drew from live performances that showcased the band's orchestral live setup.

Selected credits and compositions

Louis Clark is renowned for his orchestral arrangements and conducting, particularly his long association with the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), where he served as arranger and conductor starting with their 1974 album Eldorado. On this album, Clark orchestrated and conducted the choir and orchestra for tracks like "Can't Get It Out of My Head," marking the introduction of ELO's symphonic sound. He continued this role on subsequent releases, including Face the Music (1975), contributing string and choral arrangements to hits such as "Evil Woman" and "Strange Magic"; A New World Record (1976), with arrangements for "Livin' Thing," "Telephone Line," and "Do Ya"; Out of the Blue (1977), featuring his work on "Mr. Blue Sky," "Turn to Stone," and "Sweet Talkin' Woman"; and Discovery (1979), ELO's first UK number-one album, where he arranged strings for "Shine a Little Love". Clark also provided string arrangements for Secret Messages (1983) and performed keyboards during ELO's tour supporting Time (1981), while contributing to the Xanadu soundtrack (1980) with Olivia Newton-John. Beyond ELO, Clark's most impactful compositions and arrangements came through the Hooked on Classics series, which he created and led as conductor with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. The debut album Hooked on Classics (1981) featured medleys of classical pieces set to pop rhythms, including excerpts from Rimsky-Korsakov's "Flight of the Bumblebee" and Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue," with the title track reaching number 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 2 in the UK; the album peaked at number 4 on the Billboard 200 and sold over 10 million copies worldwide. Follow-up albums Hooked on Classics 2: Can't Stop the Classics (1982) and Hooked on Classics 3: Journey Through the Classics (1983) both entered the UK Top 20, expanding on the format with arrangements of works by Haydn, Beethoven, and others, blending classical repertoire with accessible, upbeat structures to popularize orchestral music. Clark also released a solo instrumental album, per-spek-tiv (1979), showcasing his compositional style in all-orchestral form. Clark's credits extend to arrangements for other prominent artists and projects. He provided string arrangements for Ozzy Osbourne's Diary of a Madman (1981), Roy Orbison's posthumous Mystery Girl (1989) under producer Jeff Lynne, and works by Roy Wood, America, Renaissance, and Asia. In the 1990s, as musical director for ELO Part II—a group of former ELO members—he composed and orchestrated pieces for their debut album (1990) and the album Moment of Truth (1994), including adaptations of ELO hits performed with the Moscow Symphony Orchestra during a 1991 tour. Later, Clark conducted Royal Philharmonic Orchestra albums of Beatles, Queen, and ABBA medleys, as well as excursions into opera, baroque music, and waltzes, further demonstrating his versatility in orchestral pop and classical crossover.

References

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