2011 was a great year for the Kai Clark Band. Nominated for Country Single and Country Album of the year by the LA Music Awards for their debut self titled album "Kai Clark". The band is quickly gaining the admiration of fans and critic's alike. Combining the influences of his father (Gene Clark) and the sounds of past and present. Kai Clark has given the world of music something warm and familiar yet fresh and unique.
With an arsenal of great original tunes like "Sunlight" and "Hope You Understand" and an extensive list of Gene Clarks timeless hits. The Kai Clark Band is considered one of the best up and coming live performances on the west coast.
Their music is influenced by Alternative Country, Classic Country, Americana Roots, Bluegrass, Classic Rock, Southern Rock, Blues, Accoustic, Folk, Folk Rock and more.
Band Members-----
Kai Clark --------(Accoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar and Vocals) Born and raised in Northern Ca. Kai picked up his first guitar when he was 14 and has been writing and playing music ever since. Kai's father was Gene Clark who is known worldwide as one of the greatest singer-songwriters of his time and a founding member of the 60's supergroup the Byrds!!! Like his father before him Kai has put his heart and soul into writing music. Kai self released his first self titled CD in 2010 and is planning to release a new album in 2012.
Don Segien----- (Accoustic guitar, Vocals, Electric guitar, Slide guitar, Mandolin, Bass, Dobro, Pedal Steel, Banjo, and just about any instrument that makes music)
Don started playing electric bass in the early seventies. His earliest musical influences include Buck Owens and Don Rich, the Louvin Brothers, and classic country music from the 50s and 60s. He spent much of the eighties playing jazz, soul, and R&B. Over the years, he learned to play other instruments including guitar, dobro, pedal steel, banjo, and mandolin. A versatile and natural musician, Don is as comfortable playing mandolin in a bluegrass band as he is playing guitar in a blues band or bass in a soul band. Having a deep connection to American roots music and a broad musical vocabulary, Don is able to add that "extra little something" to Kai’s music.
Jim Moreland ------(Percussion, Drums, Recording and Production)
Jim's mother was a Texan, partial to Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan. His father was a rock D.J. in L.A., skewed towards The Stones, The Byrds and The Who. Raised in L.A. in the 70's (just after the birth of FM radio), Jim grew up on a steady diet of Led Zeppelin, David Bowie and Fleetwood Mac. He believes to this very day that the worlds' greatest band would be a John Bonham / Bill Black rhythm section behind Keith Richards and Pete Townsend on guitars and feature a rotating roster of singers including Elvis Presley, Eddie Vedder, Mick Jagger, Greg Dulli and, of course, Kai Clark.
Ben Maddux-------(Bass, Vocals, Banjo, Accoustic guitar)
Growing up in the O.C. punk scene, Ben Maddux spent his formative years split between So Cal and West Texas. This helped to define his musical influences and style. He has played in original bands for some 30 years spanning many genres from punk to jazz. "Playing with Kai and the boys allows me to play what comes from my soul, finally!" HE is also the proud father of a budding musical prodigy. Claire. Influences are-- Buddy Holly, Webb Pierce, Tom Waits, John Entwistle.
Nick Bearden---- (Electric guitar, Accoustic guitar, Vocals, Bass, Percussion, Keys.
Nick Bearden is your one stop rhythm section shop: Equal parts Drums, Guitar, Bass, Singer / Songwriter, Engineer Producer.
Currently touring & recording with Sara Haze, Kai Clark – Son of Gene Clark founding Member of The Byrds, and Selena Garcia.
Late 2008 Bearden signed on with recording artist Sara Haze on guitar & vocal duty recording and heavily toured the US including performances at The Grand Old Opry in Nashville, South By Southwest Music Festival in Austin, CMJ Music Festival in New York City, Michael Clark's Sunset Sessions, coast to coast tours and more. Bearden provided guitar on the latest record, My Personal Sky which was mixed by Grammy Award winner Craig Bauer which had a major release on December 3rd, 2009. Songs from this album have been featured on television shows such as MTV's The Hills (receiving over 30,000 myspace plays a day), America's Next Top Model, Ruby, and more totaling 30 other television and movie placements. The album is available on iTunes as well as virtually every other digital online music medium available. Early 2010 resumes with appearances at Sundance Film Festival, Sunset Sessions, additional television placements, product endorsements such as Sennheiser, Paris Jeans, Dickies, Hello Music inc, and subsequent national touring throughout.
