• Biography

Biography

Herbert Lincoln Clarke is acknowledged to be the greatest cornetist of his time, as well as a composer, violinist, prolific arranger for band, band conductor, and writer of several study books for the cornet. Clarke taught at the Toronto Conservatory of Music and at Trinity College in Port Hope, Ontario. In 1893 he joined Sousa's Band as a cornet soloist and later became Sousa's assistant director, conducting the band in many recording sessions. He lead the Anglo-Canadian Leather Company Band in Huntsville, Ontario from 1918 to 1923. Under Clarke's leadership, this band became one of the most celebrated commercial bands in North America. In April of 1934, he was elected President of the American Bandmasters Association. Clarke’s recordings as a soloist include "Bride of the Waves", "Sounds from the Hudson" and "Caprice Brilliante"; and as a conductor, "Hunting Scene", and "The Stars and Stripes Forever", "Semper Fidelis" and "Favourite Songs of Canada”.