Name: Julian Clark
Position: Lead vocals, keyboards, mandolin, and bouzouki
Instruments and Gear: Roland 300 NX Stage Piano, Nord Electro 3 Piano/Organ, Korg V3 Trinity, Yamaha W7, ARP Odyssey, Roland Jupiter 10, NK Forster G Zouk, Paul Hathway Mandolin, Fender Mandolin, Resonator Mandolin, Paul Hathway Mandola, Paul Hathway Appalachian Dulcimer, Various Percussion, Fender, Roland and Marshall amplification, Sure Microphones.
Musical Influences: Queen, Hendrix, Pink Floyd, BB King, Counting Crows, Big Big Train, Robert Cray, Deacon Blue, Prefab Sprout, Elbow, Thin Lizzy, Gallagher and Lyle, Led Zeppelin, Peter Gabriel, Genesis, virtually everything on the Motown and Philadelphia labels.
Favourite Book: Lord of the Rings, everything by Terry Pratchett, everything by Dean Koontz, everything by C S Lewis.
Favourite Film: What Dreams May Come, Men of Honor, The Blind Side, The Rocky Series
Favourite TV series: Slow Horses, Star Trek
Favourite cartoon character: Totoro
Musical background:
Julian started singing along to his brother's LP collection from the age of 7. He then sang in church choirs, missing out on the opportunity of a scholarship to go to Lincoln Cathedral School due to his parents' reluctance to let him leave home. He continued singing and playing piano and organ in the local church prior to joining his brothers band "Steel City" as keyboard player at the age of 13 playing pubs and clubs across the Midlands, North and North East England, and Scotland.
Having read Law at Kingston University, Jules left England to work in Greece and Turkey, returning in 1990 to Newcastle where he formed "Percy Screams" (named after a mis heard "Paddy McAloon" lyric). On the break up of Percy, he formed the “JJ Clark Band”. JJCB had some success both in the North East and London, signing to a minor management company associated with "Shakespeare's Sister" and playing on the same bill as artists such as "Mike and The Mechanics". They also recorded a four track EP at "Palladium Studios" Edinburgh, which included an early version of "Elliemae" and was produced and engineered by John Turner, who had previously worked with bands such as "Capercaillie" and the "Cocteau Twins".
Following a spectacular Commitments-esque breakup, Julian formed a patch-up version of the JJ Clark Band, only comprising of Lisa Pallister (Sax) and Chris Johnson (Drums) but the patchuup was no replacement for the real thing, and following a short stint in Europe, the band folded. On return to the UK, Jules formed a covers band that went on to play the cruise ships and international hotel circuit, including a year in Beijing. That line up also included Lisa Pallister (Sax), Chris Johnson (Drums), and Chesterfield guitarist Steve Tingay. In 1997, that band also came to an end by mutual agreement and all the members went their own way.
Jules continued with music, now back in London and lead singing with soul band "Soul Traders" and RnB band "80 Stone O' Boogie". Immediately prior to forming "Love Street" Jules played with London covers band "Crocodile Thong" and funk outfit “Dr. Funkenstein & The Chapel of Soul”.
While his first love is Love Street, Jules also plays keyboards for the international rock covers band Seven Seas. In 2022, Jules was asked to add lead vocals to Chilean rock band Pacifico's latest release, “Someone Else's Dreams”.
Somehow, while pursuing his musical career, Jules qualified as both a barrister and solicitor and became the senior partner of a leading international law firm and is internationally recognised in the field of maritime law. During his tenure in law, Jules always looked for ways to help people and to incorporate music into his "day job”. Here are just a few of these projects:
Performing the original Love Street song “From the Sea I'll Come Home” with all proceeds donated to Sailors' Society to benefit seafarers around the world during the Covid-19 crisis. (This song was originally composed and performed for the Singapore Shipping Association at their gala in 2016.)
Julian arranged a special cover of Gavin Sutherland's “Sailing” as part of the Sing for Seafarers campaign to raise awareness and funds for seafarers around the world during the Covid-19 crisis.
Performing an acoustic cover of Bob Seger's “Turn the Page” as part of Law Rocks! London for Ukraine! and a live benefit performance at the 100 Club in London in 2022.
After a short illness, Julian Clark passed away peacefully at home in Cornwall on 19 April, 2024. Music was his lifelong passion, and, while there is a huge Jules-shaped hole in the heart of Love Street and all of us who had the privilege of knowing him, we take comfort that Julian will live on through the legacy of his music.