Mahlon Clark

Clarinettist and alto saxophonist Mahlon Clark performed with the bands of Lawrence Welk, Ray McKinley and Will Bradley during the big band era. He had a background in vaudeville before becoming a musician at the age of sixteen. Based on Santa Catalina island during World War II, he entertaining troops on furlough as part of a merchant marine band. In 1945, Clark married McKinley vocalist Imogene Lynn. After the war, he performed on a number of motion picture soundtracks while under contract to Paramount as a member of the resident studio orchestra. Clark was most famous for playing the clarinet solo of 'Baby Elephant Walk' (composed by Henry Mancini featured in the John Wayne movie Hatari! (1962). In the 1960s he became a busy session musician accompanying stars such as Ella Fitzgerald, Madonna and Linda Ronstadt. A close friend of arranger/bandleader Nelson Riddle, he can also be heard on many recordings by Frank Sinatra made for the Capitol label. Clark's second wife was singer Kathy Lennon of Lennon Sisters fame.