Jey Clark

[DD]

Just got this message posted by Mr. Steve Goodson on the MouthpieceWork website:


Jey Clark, owner of Saxology in Berkley, Ca, passed away last night after suffering a massive stroke on Sunday. I have no other details at this time, but the information was confirmed this afternoon in a conversation with his girlfriend. Jey was a long time friend, a frequent visitor to my home, played his *** off, and made me laugh. I'll miss him.


RIP - another good businessman who knew a lot about our craft and how to improve it.

[awholley]

I had the pleasure of meeting Jey for mouthpiece work on more than one occasion. This is sad news. He was a great guy.

Alan

[paulwl]

I never met J but I dealt with him on several occasions. He was most helpful, and his merchandise and workmanship were tops.

This is so sad when someone checks out this early. He learned his trade from Glen Johnston, one of the early refacing geniuses on the West Coast and a big band man going back to the 20s. Unless J trained a protegé, all that knowledge is lost to us.

Bottom line, people, strokes happen for all sorts of reasons. Get your cholesterol and BP checked every year. My dad suffered a minor stroke 3 years ago and even that turned his life upside down for a while. Could have been much worse. Sadly in J's case – it was.

:cry:

[Sebastian]

This is really sad. Jey was a cool guy to deal with. I made a trade for him and he was quite generous.

[Sebastian]

Sorry, that should read I traded with him, not for him.

[jazzpsychic]

I live here in the East Bay and knew Jey. I bought and traded many mouthpieces with him. He was one of the sweetest cats there is and always a pleasure to do business with. A very warm and empathetic person. And yeah, the cat could play. He was always studying the music,even though he didn't feel the need to gig much. But everything saxophone was obviously his passion. I sure will miss him.

[wersax]

That's so sad. I've had some dealings with Jey and he was a great refacer and honest to a fault. I just got a Berg from him that he customized and the work is superb! Hat's off to a fellow sax bro' and a fine person. He'll be missed.........

[ving]

I was shocked to hear this news--just last week I mailed back some of Jey's mouthpieces that he was kind enough to send out to try. I met Jey 3 years ago at one of the Sax Congress events, and he was very friendly and helpful. He remembered my name when I called asking about checking out some new alto mouthpeice, although we only spoke a couple of times--what a shame, and a loss.

[10mfan]

Jey and I did an enormous amount of mouthpiece trades and sales with each other. I just got a piece from him a couple weeks ago. He was great to deal with and always fun to talk to. He would send me tons of pieces to check out anytime I wanted. His friendship and conversations will definitely be missed!!!!!!!!!!!
I just talked to his partner, and it's hard to believe he's gone. The sadness will spread quickly amongst the sax community, and I personally will miss his voice and caring nature.
10mfan

[JonL]

Another forum member deeply saddened to hear this news. I did business with Jey over the past 12 or 13 years. It was a real pleasure to finally spend time with him when he was spending some time in New England a few summers ago, travelling across the country with his shop set up in an Air Stream. Probably some of you must have met him on that trip, when he made stops in various cities across the US...sort of a working/spiritual tour of the country. The man sure knew how to live. I'm thankful for having known him.

[Lenny]

Damn,
I just read this news. Comes as a shock.
I've been dealing with Jey for years, bought mouthpieces from him, tried out horns etc. He was always generous and sweet to deal with. He would let you hold on to a mouthpiece for so long you'd have to remind him you still had it.
I'd often stop by his shop just to try out horns & mpcs, and just ******** with Jey & Eric
We were planning to do a video about the history of sax mouthpiece design & how to work on your own piece.
What a loss.
I hope Eric will be able to keep the shop, but it will probably be a stretch for him unless he can get someone else in there.
Its weird, the only people I've ever had work on mpcs were Jey & Jon Van Wie. Reminds you to live life while you're here.
Does anybody know if there is /was a memorial for him.

[BigDaddyJ]

This completely passed me by. I was actually just looking for his site, and nothing came up. I am visiting the Bay Area in a week, and I was looking forward to going to Jey's shop. It was always so cool to hang out at the 4Winds and play the most unbelievable horns and mouthpieces. Jey sold me my first high-end mpc years ago, a Ponzol Super. Jey proceeded to modify that same piece into a monster player for me. Even though I only saw Jey every few years, he always remembered my name and the mpc's/horns he sold me. I am deeply saddened to hear this news.

later

Joel