Tonk’s first guitar had just four strings - his aunt gave him that guitar when he was 10 years old. There wasn’t any extra money to buy new strings, so he wore those four out - re-tying them again and again until there was nothing left to tie. From four strings to the four corners of the world, this was the down-to-earth beginning of Tonk’s musical journey; a journey that has expanded to include stellar performances with the figureheads of Jazz; Sarah Vaughan, Carmen McCrae, Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Stitt, Chet Baker, Billy Butterfield, Urbie Green, and Gerry Mulligan, Grammy winning gurus Dave Grusin and Don Grusin, and the young lions of Jazz; Roy Hargrove, Patrice Rushen, Jimmy Cobb, Geoff Keezer, and vocalist Roberta Gambarini. Tonk’s expedition is never-ending; he is ever the explorer, too deep to repeat himself, and too in love with the guitar to not honor
it every time he plays. His inventiveness on his instrument, his profound respect for Jazz, and his faith for the future of music, has added to not only his journey, but the journey of Jazz itself.
Four Corners
South ~
Clarence Aaron Edwards was born in the South - Southwest Arkansas on the map. He was raised on his family’s farm in Nashville, Arkansas in the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains. He worked the fields with his parents, eight brothers, and one sister. Both of his parents played stringed instruments, which may have planted the seed of Tonk’s love for music - though one gets the feeling that he was predestined for it. At age 12 Tonk got a “real” guitar - six strings and all. Befitting what would become his nickname “Tonk” grew up listening to the forefathers of country and Honky Tonk music; Jimmie Rodgers, Lefty Frizzell, and Hank Williams. Their genuine, straight to the heart style left a lasting impression on Tonk; there’s an essential soulful-ness in everything he plays, sings, and composes - there’s also an innate sense of swing; one of his early influences was the King of Country Swing, Bob Wills. He also counts guitarists Hank Garland, and Gene “Boo” Campbell (Glen Campbell’s uncle) as two of his early influences. As Tonk was exposed to the eclectic musical mix of the South; Country, Rockabilly, Bluegrass, New Orleans Jazz, Traditional Blues, Big Band Jazz, R&B and R&R - he eventually played and mastered them all.
After high school, and anxious to jump into the real life education of a gigging musician, Tonk played clubs throughout Louisiana, Texarkana, Arkansas, across Texas and back again. Inspired by fellow guitarist, Johnny Winchell, Tonk returned to Texarkana, and after the Texarkana College stage band director heard Tonk play one song, he was awarded a scholarship for the two year music program. Tonk added music theory to his skills - having already sustained himself quite well by playing by ear for the first part of his career. In the mid-60s Tonk moved his family to Lubbock, Texas to raise his three daughters, and gigged from Vegas to North Dakota - playing more Country than Jazz, and taught at his own music studio, until a country guitarist friend from Texas named Gene Harrell called him for a gig and then persuaded him to pack up his life once again and head north to Denver, Colorado.
North ~
The “Mile High City” was a fortuitous move for Tonk as this is where he met and played with Jazz legends Dizzy Gillespie and Sonny Stitt at the famous Senate Lounge. Another Jazz legend, Bill Evans played frequently at the Senate as well. Bill heard Tonk play and offered him a piece of encouraging advice that he’s followed to the letter, “Don’t ever stop playing.” Tonk also delved into the business side of music and became part owner of a Jazz club in Denver called the Celebrity Lounge. This gave Tonk, not only a steady gig in the house band, but a chance to perform with great artists like, Gerry Mulligan, Chet Baker, Peanuts Hucko, Billy Butterfield, Urbie Green, Don Grusin, and Dave Grusin. The Grusin brothers, known for their brilliant arranging, film scoring, producing, and for being two of the most in demand studio players on the 70s, 80s, and 90s L. A. scene, became Tonk’s California connection and it wasn’t long before he went west.
West ~
It was Dave Grusin that introduced Tonk to music industry giant Quincy Jones, and also suggested Tonk for a gig with Gerry Mulligan. Tonk’s first gig with Mulligan (the same night he got the call) was the Jazz by the Sea Festival. Tonk filled in for none other than Jazz guitarist legend, Joe Pass. That band also included, Dave Grusin on keyboards, Greg Hofstader on bass, and Harvey Mason
(Herbie Hancock, Fourplay) on drums. This combination of Gerry Mulligan’s group played the local jazz haunts around L. A. like famous jazz drummer and humorist, Shelley Manne’s club “The
Manne-hole.”
During his time in L. A. Tonk became friends with and performed with one of the first ladies of Jazz, the legendary Carmen McRae. Jazz connoisseurs know that there are a select handful of vocalists that set the precedent for Jazz singing - most musicians aren’t accomplished enough or lucky enough to play with even one of them, but Tonk has played at length with two; he was introduced to the incomparable Sarah Vaughan, at a Quincy Jones gig at the Bel Air country club. Sarah sat in with the band that night, complimented Tonk on his playing and on his work with Gerry Mulligan, and then invited Tonk to join her band, which at the time consisted of Carl Schroeder (piano), John Gianelli (bass), and Jimmy Cobb (drums). The tour took him around the U.S. and around the world to Europe and Africa. Upon hearing Tonk perform at one of those concerts, Jazz critic Leonard Feather wrote, “Her accompaniment was better than ever with the addition of a splendid jazz guitarist, Tonk Edwards…”
East ~
After the tour Tonk returned to Denver where he formed his own band, toured, and did commercial studio work. In 1979 Tonk was offered a position as head of Utah University’s guitar program in Salt Lake City, he taught there for four years, and continued to perform every chance he could.
In 1987 Tonk performed with Carmen McRae at the North Sea Jazz Festival. Then at the 1989 Montreaux Jazz Festival with celebrated Jazz organist Jack McDuff; the band included Red Holloway, Walter
Booker, Idris Muhammad, and special guest Roy Hargrove. For a grand finale, the great Dizzy Gillespie asked Tonk to join him and his all stars - Phil Woods and Cedar Walton among them - for the closing concert of the festival; Tonk took George Benson’s spot on stage, and in spite of a faulty amp, impressed the crowd. In 1989 Roy Hargrove called Tonk to play Montreaux with his group Generations; the group consisted of Ralph Moore, Geoff Keezer, Walter Booker, and Jimmy Cobb. Part of that concert was recorded and released on the Montreaux Jazz Festival 25th Anniversary CD: www.kind-of-blue.de/seiten/boxen/montreux_box.htm.
Throughout the late 80s Tonk continued to tour extensively in Belgium, Italy, France, and Spain with Jack McDuff, and Roy Hargrove and Generations.
Tonk then returned to play and teach in Denver. In 1994 he met his wife Barbara, who happened to be one of his guitar students. On his urging she later switched her instrument to bass guitar and ended up being not only the love of his life, but the bass in his band. In 1996 Tonk recorded his solo CD “Back To My Roots With Jazz” with three of Denver’s best musicians; Eric Gunnison (keys), Mark Simon (bass), and Paul Romaine (drums). That same year he decided to return to the peaceful country life, so he pointed his compass east, and he and Barbara came back to the land he was born and raised on. He, Barbara, a dog, and two cats live in Nashville, Arkansas on the Edward’s family farm. Tonk and Barbara perform weekly at Fuad’s restaurant in Texarkana, Texas, and at a host of private gigs.
An integral part of Tonk’s philosophy of Jazz is to pass down the legacy of the music. He shares some of his vast knowledge and invaluable experience with young musicians as the head of the Jazz guitar program at Arkansas University in Hope, Arkansas. Tonk also has private students, and teaches at Main St. Music in Nashville, Arkansas.
Leonard Bernstein once said, “The key to the mystery of a great artist is that for reasons unknown, he will give away his energies and his life just to make sure that one note follows another...and leaves us with the feeling that something is right in the world.” Tonk is one of those great artists and he is a true emissary - not only of Jazz, but of the best elements in all music. His lifelong mission has been to spread the necessary message of music and he does it eloquently and effectively with every note he plays. Many of the world’s best musicians have heard him and marveled at his playing, critics have praised him, though he’s been on only a few recordings, and he’s accomplished feats that most musicians merely dream of. Throughout Tonk’s sixty years of playing, there’s been one string that ties all of it together, “Heart” - Tonk plays from it and to it, and if the ear truly is the avenue to the heart, it’s the road that Tonk always takes. He’s often asked to perform at Jazz Festivals, Jazz venues, and special events around the country, and whenever people are fortunate enough to hear Tonk and to witness his effortless playing technique, one question inevitably comes up; “What is one of the greatest guitarists in the world doing in the middle of Arkansas?” That alone may be astounding, but the thing that truly astounds is Tonk’s incredible talent. This unassuming “country boy with an ear for Jazz” has traveled to the four corners of the earth and back, inspiring soul after soul with his authentic and artful music - and to think it all started with just four strings.
