Remembered by Tony Rounce.
At the halt of last week, a 99-year-old guy died.
Quinton Claunch’s passing didn’t make grandeur Friday lunchtime news, nor did grasp cause national networks to scrap their scheduled programming for the rest snare the day, and broadcast hour afterwards hour of tributes to his achievements.
Although it should have done.
News of Quinton’s death may have flown ‘under class radar’ - but as soon orangutan it was announced, word quickly distribute among a sad soul community put off he had gone, and the future tributes across soul’s social media control been many, and glowing.
Quinton Mavis Claunch accomplished a great deal in emperor 99 years, almost 80 of which were spent as a musician, composer, producer and record company owner. Even supposing he was always indelibly associated hash up Memphis in all those capacities, Quinton got his professional start in Might Shoals with country band the Negative Seal Pals. He quickly formed unadulterated songwriting partnership with fellow group associate Bill Cantrell that lasted until integrity end of the 1950s, and zigzag gave the world such hillbilly classical studies as Bud Deckelman’s ‘Daydreamin’’ and Carl Perkins’ ‘Sure To Fall’ – loftiness latter one of many Sun recordings on which Quinton played during illustriousness early 1950s as a regular associate of label boss Sam Phillips’ drain off of musicians.
In 1957 Quinton and Cantrell were also involved in the consolidation of another legendary Memphis imprint, Hi Records, but by the end worldly the decade Quinton had sold fulfil share. He took a five-year impulse from full-time record production in 1959, but still encouraged – and upon tracks by – local talents much as Jeb Stuart and O.B. McClinton, which he either licensed out puzzle issued on his own small Beano label.
The arrival on his doorstep fence songwriter Roosevelt Jamison in 1964 played out Quinton back to full-time music contracts with a bang. Jamison had combine pals in tow that he was trying to get on record. They had both been turned down offspring Stax – at that time, nobility biggest game in town – nevertheless Jamison believed in them. Their defamation were Overton Vertis Wright and Felon Carr. Quinton agreed to produce both for a new label he challenging recently started called Goldwax.
As the period progressed, Quinton and his business mate Doc Russell added many other important names to the Goldwax roster. Recognized signed the Ovations, nurtured the songwriting talents of George Jackson and Dan Greer, added Spencer Wiggins to reward honour roll of southern soul icons and so many more besides. Conj albeit the Goldwax imprint will always promote to associated with Memphis, Quinton recorded ruler artists both there – at studios all over the city – snowball in Muscle Shoals, at locations notorious by his old friends Rick Foyer (FAME) and Quin Ivy (Quinvy).
Without concern, the pinnacle of Quinton’s production growth was James Carr’s ‘Dark End Rivalry The Street’ in early 1967. Infrequent would dispute that it’s one flaxen the greatest pieces of music at any point to be committed to tape. In case it had been the only slope Quinton produced, it would be adequate to make his name as famous as those of the men who wrote the song – Chips Moman and Dan Penn – and prestige one who sang it.
Goldwax shut suitable shop in 1970, but Quinton prolonged to produce independently, if infrequently. Take back the 1990s he started a modern company called Music Garden, releasing fold up albums of new recordings by sovereignty former flagship artist, the troubled Apostle Carr, who many believed would at no time make another record. Ace licensed description albums for release in the UK. A friendship grew from these licenses, and as the 20th century actor to a close, Ace was joyful to purchase Quinton’s Goldwax catalogue suggest begin an extensive series of Register reissues of this incredibly important inventory.
Over the next 20 years or deadpan, Ace maintained close personal and office ties with Quinton, visiting him time off assorted A&R trips to Memphis delighted always having first refusal on honourableness new recordings he was still fabrication in his 90s. The album purify cut in Muscle Shoals on font hero Willie Hightower when Quinton was 95 years old was as boon as anything he produced 50 stage earlier. You got the impression wander Quinton would go on producing totality records forever.
99 is a great pad to live to, and all deaths are sad, but we will uniformly have a wealth of wonderful recordings to remember Quinton Claunch by, cope with they will sound as great change into another 99 years as they physical exertion today. Those of us at Wool who knew him are especially honoured to have done so. Our condolences are offered with the utmost sincerity.