SMS Jerry Clark

>> well, i already feel like we're family.

On this week's spotlight music series, i would like to welcome jerry clark.

And you may recognize him.

He's the owner of montana's goose creek, but he's a singer-songwriter when we went to montana's.

And thank you for joining us in the studio.

>> thank you.

>> i want to learn a little bit more about your musical background.

And we had the chance to talk about that when we came to your restaurant.

But you do have a long history in had music.

>> 60 years.

>> 60 years.

When did you first pick up a guitar?

>> 14 years old.

My brother and i grew up on a farm in south georgia, and we were not very rich by any means, and he started a band and gave me an old guitar that plays like a base fiddle and i started playing guitar for him.

And when i turned 16, some friends of mine said don't you want to quit that and enjoy high school?

So we quit for two years, three years.

>> what was it like living with out the music?

>> i didn't think it was much, but my best friend, he's gone now, but we moved to atlanta 18-year-old kids wanting to have a good time, and the next day, he brought home a flat top guitar and i've been doing it ever since.

>> and you also write your own music.

>> some of it.

I'm not much of a writer.

It's -- >> you are very modest.

You sell yourself too short.

So people can come see you perform at montana's right?

>> yes, every friday and saturday.

>> but let's talk a bit about some of your music that you've written.

You've written love songs.

You've been in love with the same lady for quite a while now.

>> over 40 years.

>> has she been the inspiration behind some of your music.

>> no, what we have done is work.

She's inspiration, but it's not so much massage she's just a very hard working woman.

And keeps us all pretty well together.

>> you're a hard working man as well, and your son, dustin.

>> if it was not for dustin and her, i probably wouldn't make it, to be honest with you.

>> you've about running restaurants for 20 years.

>> close to 40.

>> 20 years in montana.

>> but you also had a restaurant in montana.

>> myrtle beach, and i could name several places.

>> what do you prefer better?

>> music.

>> doesn't take you long to answer that question.

I'm not very much on the restaurant.

>> restaurants are a very hard business as we've learned but you do a fantastic job at t your family goods a fantastic job at.

>> we try to satisfy everybody, which we know we can't.

>> besides performing at montana's, were you traveling all over playing a different gig?

>> when i got back, that little flat top, two brothers came in one day and asked do you want to start a band?

Sure, and we started and formed a pretty good old band for three or four years, and they were called the henchmen, and here came uncle sam.

And babies, and we broke up and then i saw a drum machine, and he was making money, and i started with a single at 26 years old.

>> to see you performing live at montana's every friday and saturday.

And y you have a creek spring party coming up on the 8th.

And tell us about that.

>> he knows, i don't know what it is, but he's a veteran, and he came from -- down in vietnam.

And this dog started barking and raising cain and find out they were being attacked.

And the dog saved their life.

They put it to sleep before he came home.

And i don't know the reason, but he paid for everything, and brought it home.

And started a no-kill shelter.

The shelter is still going, and they do a great job.

>> so the proceeds from the party are going to go to the shelter, and you're going to have axe throwing and delicious food.

Beer.

>> everything is free, but you have to pay for the food and all of that.

This is just to raise money.

>> my am tight is whet to hear you [ music ]