Gary Clark Jr. at Red Rocks Amphitheatre

Texas-born musician Gary Clark Jr. is a cross between blues, rock, R&B, and hip hop. Some critics say that he’s a mix of Eric Clapton and Marvin Gaye. His fans make it an absolute must to see the guitar-slinging musician in concert, as his live sets have always been phenomenal. His lengthy guitar solos have also been critically-acclaimed by many reviewers.

Indeed, it’s not just fans who noticed his exemplary skills and penchant for songwriting. In 2014, Clark Jr. won his first Grammy. “Please Come Home” won Best Traditional R&B Performance, while “Ain’t Messin’ ‘Round” was nominated for Best Rock Song. Six years later, Clark won three more Grammys. His latest album, This Land, won Best Contemporary Blues Album, and the single “This Land” won Best Rock Performance and Best Rock Song.

If Clark’s accolades are not enough to convince you that he’s the real deal, his millions of digital streams prove that this man is more than just solos and retro music.

His latest record, This Land, was released in 2019. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Clark mentioned that the title track “This Land” is the most important song he has ever written. “It’s about being black in America, in the South.” He added that he wrote the song based on real-life experiences of being discriminated against for his color. Clark is vocal about racism and utilizes music as a tool to express his feelings and frustrations in society.