Liz Clarke 62

Liz Clarkewas born in Glasgow in 1962. Elizabeth Clarke McColl is known as Betty by her family and friends.

Liz has grown up around music all her life. Her father played a flute and her grandfather played accordion. Liz took up the accordion at the age of 8 and taught herself basics on the instrument and continued to play throughout for enjoyment and in her band. Her mother and father enjoyed listening to music and by age of 10 Liz had very keen interest in music. She was listening to rock n’ roll music from as young as 10. Her favourite singer was Elvis. By time Liz was 12 she was listening to all types of music from the 50s to the present day and her passion was rock n’ roll and country.

Liz joined a choir at School and was enthusiastically got involved in all the school musicals. By 15, Liz was dancing in a dance group to popular music and continued playing her accordion dancing and singing.

Liz met her husband in primary school. They grew up together and when they were 18 they got engaged. Her husband also played keyboards from 8 years old so music was very much part of their life. Gary was in a rock band until they married at 19 and then everything was put on hold while they had their family. Liz and Gary still kept their hand in on their musical skills playing keyboards at home. They never stopped playing music.

When the children had all grown up, Liz began to pursue her music career. IN the early 90s, she and Gary put together a duo. In the 2000s it evolved into a three-piece band called Eclipse which is still onngoing and her country band Stetsons & Heels. In the coming years Liz performed in clubs and functions as a successful artist within this circle covering all genres of music and doing solo cabaret but her heart was still in country.

In 2015 T Jae Christian, a well-known and established country singer/songwriter from Nashville, heard Liz on social media and liked what he heard. He called Liz and asked if she would like to do a duet with him, “The Vanishing Breed. The song launched Liz into the country music scene in Nashville working with T Jae on a few more duets and some original material with his label Universal Sounds Records. She went from playing the clubs to TV appearances on country shows and singing at country festivals released two albums in 3 years “The Vanishing Breed and “A Night At The Opry which was last at the Glasgow Grand Ole Opry.

The next years were very busy with radio interviews, promoting and shows as well as recording albums in Glasgow. Liz is now appearing in many clubs in the midlands and taking her career to next level.

Liz is now working with The Jackson and Clarke Rock n Rodeo band with her duet partner Paul Jackson. However during lockdown in 2020 with no music going out Liz decided to put together an album with her originals.

The Album is called “To Nashville With Love because Liz wants to give something back to Nashville and her friends and fellow musicians and writers who had faith in her and her ability complete this album. The album features some of the best award-winning songwriters in world. Liz has included a couple of covers including “Let’s Make Love by Jackson & Clarke which was the number one Most Heard Song on UKCountryRadio.com for three months and the number three Most Heard Song of the year. The other cover is a very patriotic song close to her heart called “Voices Of The Highlands all about her beautiful Bonnie Scotland her homeland.

It is hard work in this line of business to get where you are you need to have fire in your belly, passion enthusiasm drive and determination trust no one always be cautious when dealing with people biggest thing is to have great fan base who support your music

Hundreds of times most special moments. Recording in Nashville with Mark Moseley and my mentor duet Partner T Jae Christian. Another special memory was my show which was sell out at Glasgow’s Grand Old Opry all there just for me it was overwhelming.

I was always interested in music but my influences came from my parents who had country music playing all the time and rock n roll i guess I always wanted to sing. I do play accordion and organ badly lol and the biggest disappointment was when I asked my music teacher if i could sing in school play he replied no you have not got a musical bone in your body i cried after that he made do props. How wrong was he lol

We use RCF PAs and Mackie desks i just love the sound i use shure sm58 ulx radio mic which is covered in swarovski crystals but i have two orher radio mics which i use in small gigs we have amazing sound and lights my husband uses Korg Keyboard Kronas is his favourite one

I just enjoy traditional country music in 2022 i won the UK Country Music Awards for best song and in August 2023 i won European Red Carpet Award for best Duo. I am also finalist for uk country music awards for best country artiste and in October I am Finalist for the Prestigious Josie Music Awards in Nashville Grand Ole Opry super excited about all of them i never in my wildest of dreams thought i could win an award for my music but here we are a winner