Biography

Last updated - February 2009

JD 's official Biography in pdf format - a two page printable document.
Includes background, releases and JD's major concert appearances.

JD grew up in the rural community of West Gore, nestled in the Rawdon Hills, Nova Scotia. Against this backdrop he learned to play guitar at a young age and continued to pursue his musical dreams from there. Today JD is credited with having five nationally charted singles on country radio. His music has taken him across Canada as well as the US playing to nearly sold out crowds everywhere he goes. His music is naturally familiar and is guaranteed to have you up and dancing. His interactive shows will have you singing along and carrying on with him and his band throughout the entire show.

Here are just a few of the achievements JD has made during his career...

March 4-7, 2010
Nominated for country recording of the year for his album Satisfied which has had six releases since June, 2008. JD's most successful album to date. JD also performed twice during the ECMA weekend on the Discovery Stage and the ECMA Country Partnered Stage.

March 2, 2010
Performs a free concert in his home town  which was filmed as part of a promotional DVD put together by JD's management team.

February, 2010
JD travels to Nashville, to continue writng for his new album which is schedule to be released in 2010.

July 2009
Signs with B.A.M, Baird Artist Management, a Toronto based management and agency firm headed by Robert Baird.
Headlines for the annual, Brookfield Lotta Truck Draw held at the Don Henderson Memorial Sportsplex in Brookfield NS. Previously JD played the same venue while opening for George Canyon.

June 2009
Releases his 6 single “So Good With You” from his latest Album Satisfied
Performs for a sold out crowd for the 225 Anniversary of the Douglas Township Days, held in Kennetcook, NS

March 2009
JD travels to Nashville to continue writing for his new Album.

February 2009
JD travels to Corner Brook, NL to perform at the East Coast Music Awards at the ECMA Bluebird North Showcase. JD releases his fifth single from Satisfied titled 100 years From Now.

December 2008
JD is nominated for two East Coast Music Awards in the categories Country Recording of the year and CBC Galaxie Rising Star Recording of the year. He was also asked to perform in the ECMA Bluebird North Showcase during the conference weekend held in Corner Brook Newfoundland. JD gets his first cut in a movie soundtrack with “Do You Remember” which is off of his latest album. "Black Crescent Moon" is a western/thriller that will be released in various theatres in the US, the UK and Asia.

JD releases his first Christmas song titled “I’m All About Christmas”.

Performs on the nationally televised Christmas Daddies Telethon.

November 2008
JD traveled to Nashville to begin writing for his new CD for 2010. He had a full week writing with Adam Wheeler (Nobel Vision Music), Willie Mack (Ole Music), Kirsti Manna, Tim Taylor, and Steve Fox. One of the songs written was JD first Christmas song titled “I’m All About Christmas” co-written with Steve Fox and released to radio across Canada.

October 2008
JD makes the first round of industry voting to be placed on a ballot for a Grammy Award nomination in seven categories.

September 2008
JD traveled to Winnipeg, Manitoba, to perform during the CCMA Awards Week for one of three songwriters showcases. He performed with Canadian country stars Johnny Reid, Jason Blaine and Hey Romeo.

August 2008
JD performed at the New Glasgow Jubilee, where he shared the stage with fellow songwriters Dave Gunning and Deric Ruttan. He also headlined at the Nova Scotia Provincial Exhibition in Truro, closing out the provinces' largest exhibition.   Additionally, JD had a song added to a compilation CD as part of a charity event for cancer called One Night,  One Fight, performing at Pier 21 in Halifax for the Tony Griffin Foundation.

JD's Latest single "I Hope You're Satisfied" climbs to #20 on the CanCountry Top 100 Hits list.

June 2008
JD released his latest CD titled “Satisfied” (available for download on  iTunes). His release date was on June 7 and this was also the kick off to his first cross Canada Media Tour. The tour also covered parts of the US as well, encompassing 4186 miles in all.

March 2008
JD signs with award winning A&R Label Big Noise, from Rhode Island, USA.

February 2008
JD traveled to Daytona Beach Florida to perform at the 50th Anniversary for the Daytona 500. There he performed the NASCAR Members Club during the tailgate party just prior to the greatest race in Motorsports, the Daytona 500.

August 2007
JD performed at the Big Valley Jamboree in Camrose, Alberta, and was  asked to open for Canadian Country Star Michelle Wright.

April 2007
JD traveled to Nashville to complete recording of his new album, Satisfied. He collaborated with songwriters Steve Fox, Duane Steele and Tim Taylor among others for this sophomore album.

February 2007
JD released his single ‘Somethin' 'Bout You’ which was quickly picked up by radio, nationally and internationally.

November 2006
JD was awarded the Music Nova Scotia Country/Bluegrass Recording of the Year Award for his debut album "All That Matters" (available for download on  iTunes).

JD shared the stage with the multi-award winning Celtic group the Barra MacNeils and entertained a sold out crowd at the Astor Theatre. JD played another sold out show at the historic Mersey House that same evening.

September 2006
JD was asked to perform in the highly anticipated songwriters’ café during the Canadian Country Music Awards, in St. John, New Brunswick. There he shared the stage with fellow east coast writers, Ron Hynes and Matt Minglewood, as well as Krista Scoggins from Alberta.

August 2006
New Glasgow Jubilee – JD shared the stage on the country night with one of Canada's biggest stars Aarron Prichett and internationally acclaimed songwriter, Ron Hynes. JD played to a crowd of 6,000 plus; after finishing his set he was asked to go back out for an encore acoustic performance. (Earlier in the day he had played yet another festival in Windsor, Nova Scotia, Sam Slick Days, where he entertained thousands.)

July 2006
JD performed for a sold out crowd of 4,000 plus where he shared the stage with Canadian country singing star George Canyon, June 2006, JD was also invited to perform in Maui, Hawaii in front of 7,000 fans, at their largest rodeo held in Makawao. While on the Big Island he also performed at selected shows throughout Hawaii. He was sponsored by a local western wear store called Aloha Cowboy, who are now the official supplier of JD Clarke Western Wear.  Immediately after returning home JD hit the road with Canadian recording artist  Aaron Lines. Doing the entire tour opening the show with only his acoustic, it was easy to see he could hold his own on any stage.

March 2006
JD performed shows during Junos Week in Halifax Nova Scotia including his showcase with Juno award winners The Road Hammers.

October 2005
JD toured Atlantic Canada, doing shows in theatres to promote his brand new CD. Also JD filmed a video for All That Matters in Cape Breton at the Red Shoe Tavern which was produced by James B. Yockey. (Nashville Star)

September 2005
Travelled to Calgary for the CCMA and landed 4 shows on the Atlantic Canadian portion of the Sean Hogan Canadian Country Christmas Tour with Duane Steel, Jason Blaine, Jamie Warren, Dian Chase and Sean Hogan.

JD releases is first CD titled “All That Matters” This CD was recorded in Dartmouth NS, Canada at Ferguson Music Productions. JD home town of Elmsdale held a fundraiser for him and raised the funds needed to record the CD. JD wrote all 10 cuts. The title track of the CD “All That Matters” was JD’s first single of his career.

2004
JD won several singing contests including Rodeo Idol held at the Rodeo Lounge in Burnside, Dartmouth, NS, which ran for 12 weeks. The second was a contest that took place in Bridgewater NS, that consisted of the top 20 singers chosen from Atlantic Canada and the third contest was the 25th anniversary, ESSO Talent search held at Alderney Landing in Dartmouth NS.