JULY 30, 2025 INTERVIEWS
Cowboy Jack Clement: Jerry Lee Lewis, Charley Pride, U2
"Cowboy" Jack Clement is a guitar player, singer, songwriter, engineer, publisher and producer, born in 1931 in Tennessee. He began working in Memphis at Sun Records in 1956, engineering and producing sessions for Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, Charlie Rich and Jerry Lee Lewis. After falling out with Sam Phillips, he moved to Nashville and began working with Chet Atkins before moving to Beaumont, Texas, where he scored more hit songs. Eventually he returned to Nashville, where he remains today. He's the quintessential behind-the- scenes guy, the man who gets things done. His laid back style and soothing drawl belie the qualities that made him a success — energy, focus, keen intuition and a love of risk. A short list of other production credits includes Billy Lee Riley, Charley Pride, Townes Van Zandt, U2, Don Williams, Louis Armstrong, Frankie Yankovic and Waylon Jennings. At 79 Clement is still active, hosting a show on SIRIUS Satellite Radio and playing select dates with his band. He recently produced the album Ghost Town by the talented quintet, Marley's Ghost, where Cowboy even sings lead on a version of his tune, "Going Back To Bowling Green." Be sure to look for the documentary about Jack, Shakespeare Was a Big George Jones Fan, by Robert Gordon and Morgan Neville.
