Biography
Hailing from Kansas, guitarist and vocalist Mike Coykendall supplies poetic lyricism that the San Francisco-based band the Old Joe Clarks drapes across soulful country and bluegrass melodies. www.austin.citysearch.com describes Coykendall as a "deep voiced Dylan with a keen eye for songwriting. His songs have that rare ability of appearing to come from both yesterday and yesteryear." The Old Joe Clarks formed initially as a trio of Coykendall, his wife Jill McClelland-Coykendall on melodica and clarinet, and Kurt Stevenson handling lead guitar, lap steel, and background vocals. After the 1997 release of their debut album Town of Ten, the group expanded into a larger ensemble that added drummer Pat Campbell, guitarist and vocalist Mark Orton, and Rob Burger on pump organ, Hammond B-3, accordion, and piano. Coykendall and his wife had lived in Kansas until their 1991 move to San Francisco, where he began his career in the teenage psychedelic rock band Klyde Konner; McClelland-Coykendall had previously performed with the avant-garde classical group the Wichita New Music Ensemble.
Albums
