Boileryard Clarke
1868–1959 (age 91)
Musician
Biography
Boileryard Clarke (1868–1959) earned his nickname through years of stirring musical gatherings, and he remained beloved as a musician whose lively playing connected early ragtime, blues, and the emerging sounds of jazz.
His work welcomed listeners into the joy of improvisation, and younger players followed his example of generosity and rhythm; he now rests at Druid Ridge Cemetery, where friends remember his vibrant tunes.