Garnet Clark

Garnet Clark, sometimes credited as Garnett Clark (February 16, 1917 – November 30, 1938),[1] was an American jazz pianist.

Clark began playing professionally in his birthplace of Washington, D.C., United States, at age 16 in Tommy Myles's band.[1] By 1934, he was playing regularly in New York City clubs; in the mid-1930s he recorded with Alex Hill and Charlie Barnet.[1] Benny Carter was playing with Barnet at the time, and he and Clark decided to quit Barnet's group and move to Europe in 1935 with Willie Lewis.[1][2] While there he recorded with Django Reinhardt, although it was noted with only a hint of the prowess exhibited in New York,[2] and also with Bill Coleman, but soon after left this group to play solo. He accompanied Adelaide Hall in Switzerland in the mid-1930s.[2]

In 1937, he suffered a nervous breakdown, ending his career.[2] Clark died soon after, in St Rémy, Haute-Saône, France, in November 1938, at the age of 21.[1]