Francis Albert Clark

CLARK, Francis Albert. b. Brooklyn, New York, 1867; d. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 27 February 1948. Widely known as ‘Professor Clark’, he was a celebrated Philadelphia organist, pianist, choir director and arranger, and director of music in a number of leading churches, including, the Wesley African American Episcopal Zion Church (ca. 1919) and the Wesley Methodist Church on 15th and Lombard Streets. Clark was the Celebration Chorus musical director for the controversial, but successful, commemoration marking the 50th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, Philadelphia, 1913. The concert included his plantation lullaby, ‘Sleep Dusky Babe’ (Philadelphia, 1912). It is thought that...