Terri Clark photo courtesy of Spalding Entertainment.
One of the inherent difficulties with the music business is implied in the industry’s name: Music is an art, but business requires one to make money. The two don’t always go hand in hand, and it’s one of the frustrations Terri Clark has faced in her career.
She broke through in 1995 with the feisty “Better Things To Do,” and she quickly became a regular presence on the radio for the better part of the next decade. Unfortunately, she’s convinced that people who’ve only heard her singles have missed her best work.
“Country radio was good to me for many years, but it also pigeonholed me,” she told Gibson.com. “After my first album, I was expected to fill the slot on their playlist for ‘fun, up-tempo female.’ That provided me with a space to fill on that playlist, and a string of turntable hits, but in my entire career I had only two ballads that broke the Top 10.”
“There have been quite a few songs,” she added, “songs that never got released as singles, that I felt were stronger than a lot of the singles that came out.”
Feeding the marketplace took its toll, and near the end of 2008, she parted company with BNA, the major label to which she was signed, frustrated by a “lack of motivation for the music I was recording.”
She did come up with an independent album, The Long Way Home, last year. It got good reviews and proved to be her most personal project to date. Using that same sort of motivation, she begins a tour Thursday in Indianapolis that promises to be extremely personal. It’s titled Unplugged & Alone, and it will likely be an emotionally taxing journey. She recently cancelled an appearance on the Grand Ole Opry to spend more time with her mother, who’s battling cancer.
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My daughter and I have been to several of your concerts – in the Pacific Northwest.
We have missed you the last year or so and can not wait to see you perform and hear your great music. Keep up the good work and prayers for your mom.
Linda & Annie
I never thought Terri got a fair shake in the country music industry. She is a beautiful woman, and so very talented!! I hope she makes a return and comes on with a vengence!! God bless her and her Mom, they will be in my prayers!!
Dearest Terri, may you always continue to share your music with us. This is Roberta Your Mom's friend from Greece (The Milo's gal) I miss you and her so much. i always look for you on the air and in the shows. Love you kiddo, Berta
I personally feel that CMT And GAC didn't give her videos enought air time or credit for them to brake the top 20. Dirty Girl and She didn't have time both should have made the top 20 and both went no where. Dirty Girl was up beat, fun and had
a great video to go with it. It is much like Girls lie too and look where that went.
I am disappointed in not only CMT, GAC and radio stations who no longer play
her music. Praying for your mom Terri!
My daughter,Samantha, and I have been going to Terri concerts since 96. There is lots of energy and talent. She is always happy and greets everyone gladly….in Vegas one year she was told don't talk…but she did not cancel her meet and greets…That is Terri. I do hope mom is ok, being a cancer suvivor I know and wish her all the good things.
The few songs I have heard from Terri, I have enjoyed immensely. She is correct that artists are under utilized and sometimes overappreciated, until not. I wish Terri and her mother the richest blessings and may comfort and peace find its way into your hearts.
That's too bad about Terri's mom, I hope she pulls through ok. I've always enjoyed Terri's music and attitude. Radio IS fickle, but I hope Terri perseveres, I'd like to hear new material.