Michael Clarke, a native of Spokane, Washington, had a storied career in the music industry, serving as the drummer for three influential bands of the 1960s and 1970s.
In the mid-1960s, Clarke was part of the original lineup of The Byrds, a pioneering country-rock band, where he played from 1965 to 1967.
Following his time with The Byrds, Clarke joined The Flying Burrito Brothers in 1969, where he remained until 1972, helping to shape the band's unique country-rock sound.
In 1975, Clarke became the drummer for Firefall, a popular rock band, and remained with the group until 1981.
In addition to his work as a musician, Clarke also developed a talent for art, and his landscape paintings have been showcased at various prestigious art galleries.
After Firefall, Clarke briefly joined Jerry Jeff Walker's touring band before dedicating most of his life to various configurations of the Tribute to The Byrds bands, alongside other notable musicians such as Gene Clark, Rick Roberts, John York, and others.
