Saxophonist Terry Clements
Born March 27, 1939
Terry Clements has a relatively small internet footprint. There is another Terry Clements, a guitarist who played with Gordon Lightfoot for four decades.
This Terry Clements played saxophone with Janis Joplin’s briefly formed Kozmic Blues Band at the Woodstock Music and Art Fair and that’s why I’ve put together this small piece as I’ve tried to do for all the Woodstock performers.
Electric Flag
Terry Clements also played with the Electric Flag, Leonard Schaeffer, Buddy Miles, Stoneground, and Michael Bloomfield.
The Electric Flag 1968 album is a live one featuring vocals by Erma Franklin, Aretha’s older sister. The album, as you can imagine, is loud and proud.
Saxophonist Terry Clements
Leonard Schaeffer/Buddy Miles
Leonard Schaeffer is not a common name and his music leans far away from the Electric Flag’s sound. Terry plays sax on Schaeffer’s album, A Boy and His Dog (but not on this cut).
Saxophonist Terry Clements
Jimi & Janis
He joined the Janis’s Kozmic Blues Band in December 1968 and toured with the band for its brief time, but he sat in with Jimi Hendrix on June 22, 1969 at the Newport festival in Devonshire Downs, CA. By the way, Jimi played the Star Spangled Banner that day, too.
Saxophonist Terry Clements
Stoneground
AllMusic lists Terry as a member of Stoneground for their 1972 Stoneground 3 album. Wikipedia states that, “Stoneground was a rock band formed in 1970 in Concord, California. Originally a trio, Stoneground expanded to a 10-piece band by the time of their eponymous 1971 debut album. The group appeared in two films, Medicine Ball Caravan (1971) and Dracula A.D. 1972 (1972), and released three albums before singer Sal Valentino quit in 1973. “
Other than several albums that are reissues of Janis Joplin material, the internet suggests that Terry has been professionally quiet or at least under the radar.
If anyone can assist, please comment. Thanks.
Saxophonist Terry Clements
And in February 2023 the following comment was added to this post by a Steve Becker:
Terry played in my band, Stormy Weather in the mid 80’s in Asheville, NC. He had moved to Cullowee, NC and bought a farm. We were the House band at the Radisson Hotel for 10 years. This tall, blonde BRIT walked in one night & asked if we could use a sax player. He grabbed it from his car & tore it up with us that night. I hired him on the spot. We loved playing with him till he retired to farming and being a carpenter as well. When i saw him on the Ed Sullivan show & the Woodstock movie with Janice….I knew how lucky we had been. Assuming he still lives in the mtns of NC.
wow, thanks for posting this! i’ve just spent 45 minutes trying to figure out who’s playing tenor on this video of janis joplin on “this is tom jones.”
https://youtu.be/mZmiefQ5y4U?t=115
there’s almost nothing on the internets but boy could terry wail!
My dad was close friends with Terry in his teen years. I’ve just found lots of photos of them playing together late 50’s. If anyone knows anything about Terry’s whereabouts I’d love to hear.
Terry played in my band, Stormy Weather in the mid 80’s in Asheville, NC. He had moved to Cullowee, NC and bought a farm. We were the House band at the Radisson Hotel for 10 years. This tall, blonde BRIT walked in one night & asked if we could use a sax player. He grabbed it from his car & tore it up with us that night. I hired him on the spot. We loved playing with him till he retired to farming and being a carpenter as well. When i saw him on the Ed Sullivan show & the Woodstock movie with Janice….I knew how lucky we had been. Assuming he still lives in the mtns of NC.
Hello Maya, I don’t know if you have or will ever check back in
here but many thanks for attempting to connect with me.
Yes, your dad, Frank, was a very important part of my life in the late 1950’s——also New York in 1963 and UK again in 1970 and 1979. We did a lot of cool and crazy stuff together but eventually
lost contact. I believe I have copies of some of the photos that you mention. See my posting below as to my current whereabouts. All best——-Terry
Snooky Flowers was asked to put a band together to go on the road and travel with a young blues singer named Janis Joplin.????
Not much but an interview from 2016 (watch the long one)
https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/snooky-flowers
I MET TERRY IN BEN LOMAND CA. AT A COFFEE SHOP. I DID NOT KNOW WHO HE WAS AT FIRST. WE GOT TO TALKING ABOUT MUSIC. I TOLD HIM I WAS A MUSICIAN AND I WAS A FRIEND OF THE Moby Grape GUYS.HE ASKED ME ABOUT SOME S. F. MUSICIANS. ONE WAS SNOOKY FLOWERS.I SAIS WHO IS THIS GUY. I WENT HOME AND LOOKED AT MY STONEGROUND CDS. YES IT WAS TERRY.THE NEXT TIMEI SAW HIM I TOLD HIM I NEW WHO HE WAS.HE TOLD ME HE SOLD A HOUSE IN FLORIDA AND MOVED TO BROOKEDALE
CA. HE SAID HE STILL HAS HIS HORNS. HE JUST LIKES SOUL AND BLUES MUSIC. HE GAVE ME HIS PHONE NUMBER BUT I DONT THINK HE WANTS TO GIVE IT OUT. I STILL SEE HIM AROUND TOWN. I HOPE THIS HELPS!
Michael Martyn GOOD MEDICINE
FWIW: Terry is specifically mentioned in this ancient clip(early 80s?). I found this site after seeing this video.
Not sure where he is now. In the 60s Ian Dunlop was in The International Submarine Band and the original incarnation of the Flying Burrito Brothers with co-founder Gram Parsons. I met and befriended Ian years ago at a GP tribute festival. As of today(3/2023), he still lives in Cornwall and still performs. https://youtube.com/watch?v=BF-InEGfU-k&si=EnSIkaIECMiOmarE
Well hello there,
Yes, Michael Martyn is correct. I am currently alive and reasonably well (for an 84 year old) living close to santa Cruz Ca.
Not into too much internet or “being famous” so was quite surprised when my daughter just showed me this and other sites.
Appreciate the few kind comments (above) and will try to reply to a couple of posters. Not sure what else to say here but am
open to few brief questions if anyone wants more info.
Very best wishes!!!! ——-Terry
We miss you on Pine island Terry!!
Hi, Terry…you won’t remember me, but I met you as one of a couple frisbee playing young ‘uns in the park when you lived on Sacramento St, I think it was…1968/69. You were a part of a short but very influential period in my life and I have always wanted to thank you for your kindness. I hope you still play the sax sometimes and that life has been kind to you.
Hey there Eleanor, What a pleasant surprise that you stumbled upon this seemingly remote site! So, absolutely yes——you are most definitely remembered!! I met you in Washington Square, North Beach one pleasant Summer day in 1969—-you were visiting the City from your then home in Livermore, I believe.
I lived nearby and you visited few more times. A few months later I saw you at UCSC and soon thereafter met my now wife who
already had two kids. So the responsibilities of “instant” family life took over and I soon lost contact with many old friends.
Your “kindness” comment was very thoughtful and much appreciated!! I sincerely wish you and yours all best possible
wishes and hope that you stumble back here to confirm that
you are very much remembered!!
Hi, Terry…thanks for the lovely response. I seem to remember you with a very tiny baby on your arm at one visit…? I hope that little one was one of your soon to be own kids. I’m still in touch with one of my friends, Pam, who you also met that day in the park, but like you, have lost touch with so many others from those days. I’m so happy to hear that you have lived and loved a good life and are still happy and healthy! It feels
like I have lived a couple of lives since then, all good, but those days bring back almost technicolor memories (and I didn’t even take drugs!). Living on the Westside now with my husband and two cats with two horses up the road…life is still good. Be well! Eleanor
Hello Terry-
Derek Huston from New Orleans here. We’ve been out of touch for decades & I’ve been wondering about you and Susan. My folks retired to NC almost 20 years ago & I have a few friends in Asheville. I don’t participate in social media so I never searched for you there.
It sounds like you may be in California now, I wonder if you are still playing your sax? I’m so glad I chose New Orleans when I did, it is still a fulfilling place for me to nourish myself as a fan and as a player.
Please let me know if you receive my inquiry, I’d love to catch up with you!
Hey there Terry,
Nice to see your comments and know that you are doing well. I bought a Florida Link from you in 2008, and I enjoyed our brief email correspondence. I’m currently playing in a Janis Joplin tribute band in Maine, with the Kozmic Band three-horn lineup, so naturally I thought of you. Do you know who arranged the horns on Kozmic Blues? It doesn’t say on the album, and I’ve wondered if it might have been you. I’ve charted those, and am making my own arrangements for Cheap Thrills and Pearl tunes. I’m having a blast with it.