Terri Clark Biography
Summary
"Terri Lynn Sauson" (born on August 5, 1968 in Montreal, Quebec) is a Canadian country music singer-songwriter best known by her stage name "Terri Clark". Starting with her 1994 debut single 'Better Things to Do', Clark has charted several singles on both the U.S. and Canadian country music charts, in addition to releasing six studio albums and a Greatest Hits compilation.
Early life
Terri's grandparents Ray and Betty Gauthier were both noted Canadian country musicians, and her mother belonged to the folk scene. From a young age, Terri wore cowboy outfits, a trait she retained into later years. After graduating high school, she moved from Medicine Hat, Alberta to Nashville in 1987, where she got her start playing at Tootsie's Orchid Lounge.
Career
Mercury Records (1994-2006)
In 1994, Terri received a record deal from Mercury Records. Released in 1995, 'Better Things To Do' was her first single. It reached #3 on Billboard's Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in the United States, as well as on RPM's Country Singles chart in Canada. Her debut album, "Terri Clark", released in the same year, achieved gold status and contained a few songs she had composed herself. Both 'When Boy Meets Girl' and 'If I Were You' also charted in the Top 10, the latter becoming Terri's first #1 single in Canada.
Her second album, 1996's "Just the Same", sold even better than her first work. In the USA as well as Canada, it went platinum. The first two singles, 'Poor, Poor Pitiful Me' and 'Emotional Girl,' reached the Top 10 in the U.S. and #1 in Canada.
Terri released her third album, "How I Feel", in 1998. The album contained her first American #1 single, 'You're Easy On The Eyes,' which also went to #1 in Canada.
"Fearless" was Terri's fourth album, released in 2000. While the album was a success in Canada, the highest charting single in the United States was 'A Little Gasoline,' which peaked at #13.
Terri's fifth album, 2003's "Pain to Kill", brought her back to the American Top 5 when 'I Just Wanna Be Mad' peaked at #2. 'I Wanna Do It All' also reached #3.
Terri released her "Greatest Hits 1994-2004" the following year. The only single released from the collection, 'Girls Lie Too,' went straight to #1 in the United States. Terri became the first Canadian female to be inducted into the Grand Ole Opry on June 12, 2004. Currently she is the only Canadian female member.
Only one single from 2005's "Life Goes On" reached the U.S. Country charts, 'She Didn't Have Time.' Her contract with Mercury Records expired in March 2006, after seven albums.
BNA Records (2007-present)
In 2007, Terri signed with BNA Records. Her first album for BNA, "My Next Life", is scheduled to be released in March 2008. The second single, 'In My Next Life,' is set to be released to radio on November 19, 2007
Personal life
Terri married her tour manager Greg Kaczor on September 17, 2005. The couple filed for divorce on February 16, 2007. It was her second marriage. Her first marriage, to fiddle player Ted Stevenson in 1991, ended in 1996. In late September 2005, she moved to Vancouver Island, British Columbia.
While recording her current album with BNA Records, Terri received startling news about her mother's terminal illness. Her Mother was diagnosed earlier this year with cancer. The tumour has been removed and she is still recovering. Even though Clark was taken by surprise, she is still moving on with the scheduled CD to come out in 2008.
Controversy
On May 2, 2001, Terri was pulled over on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. After failing a field sobriety test Terri refused to take a blood alcohol test. She was charged with DUI and implied consent.
Discography
Albums
A"Terri Clark" also peaked at #1 on US Top Heatseekers.
Singles
AReached #1 on U.S. "Radio & Records" country singles charts.
BFailed to chart on US charts.
CTo be released.
References
Williams, Janet (1998). 'Terri Clark'. In "The Encyclopedia of Country Music". Paul Kingsbury, Editor. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 95.
External links
(Grand Ole Opry: Members page for Terri Clark)
(Terri Clark Official Website)
(Terri Clark's latest bio, news, photo galleries, and Fan Q&A) at Great American Country
Credit
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article about Terri Clark.
