Joe Clough
Teaching the Power and Joy of Music
As shared by Paula Graham
Power of Music Music Runs in Joe's Veins Commitment to Children "Mr. Music" -- Phenomenal with Kids
Joe Clough has strong feelings about the power music has to enrich a person, regardless of one's age. For over 50 years Ladysmith, Wisconsin's "Mr. Music" has been teaching the young and the young at heart the joy of making music. At age 68 Joe is still going strong, keeping the beat alive as he has for the past half century.
"A lot of time people reach 50 and think they're sliding downhill, which can be true bodily, but not necessarily mentally. You realize your limitations, but why close down entirely. Regardless of age, regardless of limitations, assess what you can do and you'll find there are a lot of possibilities," said Joe. "When you say you can't do this or can't do that, pretty soon all you can do is push the remote."
According to Joe, music is not only ageless, but timeless and without boundaries. "There is no mandatory retirement in music. Music softens people's hearts and changes dispositions. It moves a person from sullen to smiling. And music is common to the world. You can play other people's music without speaking their language."
Music runs in Joe Clough's veins. His mother played the banjo and tenor guitar; his father played the violin. "I was born with a built-in sense of rhythm. My mother always played and sang, so I was familiar with all the old folk songs back to the early 1900s." Joe also credits his uncle Fred Conover and the band directors at Bruce School for developing his talent.
At age 11 Joe went to live with his Uncle Fred in Appolonia. As president of the Appolonia Social Center, Fred Conover scheduled bands for the monthly dances. "Needless to say, I was part of it," Joe recalls. He played his saxophone and accordion, just to sit in with the bands, and then learned their music by ear. While still in elementary school he played saxophone with the Bruce High School band. "I was small for my age. It must have made a fascinating sight," said Joe.
Joe returned to Ladysmith for high school, but didn't participate in band until his senior year when other students asked him to join. "I talked to the music director who said, 'sure, on one stipulation: you join the choir, too. Take it or leave it.' I didn't want to join the choir, but I did." Following high school, Joe worked in his family's construction business, and at the request of parents, offered music lessons evenings and weekends.
The accordion became Joe's primary instrument. He worked at the Duluth (Minnesota) Accordion Center. Locally, he continued giving lessons and formed a band to play for fairs and festivals: usually a group of 12 to 15 kids who played polkas and waltzes.
During the 1960s, however, polkas and waltzes gave way to the Stomp and the Twist. Even rural, remote Rusk County, Wisconsin, could not stem the assault of rock and roll. Joe's efforts expanded to include teaching drums, electric guitar and bass. "I taught mostly rock and roll. That music was actually louder than popular music is today because bands were experimenting with volume." Gradually, Joe suffered hearing loss as a result of working with those bands.
Following retirement from the construction business in 1983, Joe increased his teaching load from 65 to 85. Today he averages 40 students per week. "I do it because I know a lot of kids won't get taken care if I stop. I see kids getting joy out of it. But it's not one-sided. When the kids are happy and doing well, I'm happy and I do well. Children need an identity and music makes them feel good about themselves and good about life."
Joe encourages all his students to sing. "I believe singing is part of personal expression. Playing is important, but singing is an added feature to their personal development." Joe recalls that he wasn't fond of singing in front of people so he doesn't apply pressure. "I know what the kids go through, but I'm always enthused when I see them do a nice job."
In addition to teaching, Joe hosts Friday night band practice at his Music and Sewing Center in Ladysmith. His bands play without charge as a community service at many local events -- cancer fundraisers, basketball tournaments, summer street parades, local fairs and festivals. Joe provides his equipment, time, and effort. "I like to see students do something with their talents. That's why I take them to fairs and events. It gives them a reason to practice and play."
Happily, Joe's musical influence extends beyond area youngsters. Dave Manosky, who played drums and keyboard with Joe's band in the 1960s, began anew 35 years later when his sons John and Paul started lessons. How he ended up sitting on a parade float with a group of teens and preteens is a tribute to "Mr. Music's" infectious enthusiasm. "Joe remembered that I had always wanted to learn bass guitar," Manosky reports. "One day Joe said to me, 'As long as you're bringing the boys, do you want to take bass? You're never too old to learn.'"
According to Manosky, Joe is a musical genius. "He is phenomenal with kids. I can't understand the patience that man has. Kids just love to learn from him and they don't even know they're learning," he said. Manosky appreciates Joe's civic-minded spirit and dedication to the youth of Rusk County. "He's a real asset to the community. He must have touched thousands of lives."
Joe takes a personal interest in each of his students. "Children need individual attention to make progress," he said. Whether he's teaching, lugging amplifiers and speakers to gigs or coaxing shy students to sing, Joe waltzes through it all with patience, grace and humor. "A lot of things have made teaching music fun over the years. The kids are so wonderful to work with, it makes it all worthwhile." Nodding rhythmically, he promises, "I'll keep going as long as I can."