Jonny Cash Hurt

Clement studio suffers fire

Total damage has yet to be assessed, but "obviously the losses due to fire, smoke, and water are extensive and, for the most part, irreplaceable," Clement's web site said.

"No humans, felines, or guitars were hurt thanks to the fortuitous presence of Aleene Jackson's son Kevin who smelled the smoke and roused Cowboy from his afternoon nap, and due to the heroics of the Nashville firemen who, directed by engineer/bass player David Ferguson, went into the blazing building to retrieve instruments and memorabilia," the site said.

Clement, 80, a singer, songwriter and producer, lives with Jackson.

"I got my baby," he was quoted by The Tennessean, referring to a Gibson J200 guitar he bought in 1951 while still in the Marines. Elvis Presley's belt buckle scratched the guitar.

Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Eddy Arnold and John Prine spent time at the studio, which was more than 30 years old. Clement stored reel-to-reel master tapes of recordings - many unreleased - by Cash, Prine, Armstrong and others. "I'm sure we've lost some other memorabilia," said Clement to The Tennessean.

Clement produced as at Sun Records for Jerry Lee Lewis' Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On and recording sessions with Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash and Charlie Rich.

Clement also aided the careers of Charley Pride and George Jones. He produced three tracks for U2's "Rattle and Hum" sessions in Memphis and also helmed recording for an album by Louis Armstrong. Although not in the same league vocally as past associates Johnny Cash, Charley Pride, Waylon Jennings and Don Williams, 73 year-old producer/songwriter Jack Clement one-ups most of them on the score of imaginative song selection and simple evocative production chops. Clement's vocals are sometimes craggy and pitchy, yet his melodic old-timey baritone often proves charming. This is especially true of the absurdly humorous polka-tinged "Drinking Carrot Juice" and scatting Dixieland of "Leavin' Is  »»» When names like Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Waylon and the Hag are invoked, you're talking hard core country. These are the touchstones of country , the guys who made country music what it was and still is (or maybe can be). When these folks would sing about being down-and-out and the rough-and-tumble, they knew of what they were singing about. Fast forward a few years to the country singers of today.  »»» The Taylor Swift juggernaut, aka Speak Now World Tour 2011, confirms the superstar status of Swift. The pop country singer sold out two nights at the football stadium and demonstrated that going from the arenas to an even bigger stage proved no problem. In fact, Swift deftly connected with fans in a number of ways in a colorful night of music....  »»» Similar to the way fans gave Merle Haggard a hero's welcome at 2010's Stagecoach Festival, this Southern California stop on Willie Nelson's Country Throwdown tour offered folks the opportunity to give the redheaded one a great big 'thank you' for all he's given country music. Although most all the acts on the bill are...  »»» Foster & Lloyd are back together again with their first studio album in 21 years, "It's Already Tomorrow." Sure, they've each had a lot of individual success, especially as songwriters. However, something special happens when these two talented artists pool their skills together. So, why now? "We played a special event here in Nashville a couple (of) years ago," says Bill Lloyd....  »»» Oh, the trouble Justin Townes Earle has seen. The 29-year-old singer/songwriter's well publicized drug-and-alcohol problems over the years have resulted in several stints in rehab, the most recent being last fall after an altercation at an Indianapolis venue which necessitated Earle's return to treatment and the cancellation of his tour. Thankfully, Earle is doing well these days....  »»» Just over two years ago, Joy Williams and John Paul White were maintaining separate and fairly successful solo careers. Williams had been singing since her teenage years, had a number of hits in the inspirational (i.e. Christian) genre and scored a number of Dove Award nominations, but had tired of the category's constraints and was looking to branch out. White had established himself as a rising singer/songwriter, recording an album for Capitol at the same time as the label's massive layoffs, but remained hopeful.

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