Maine honors legendary cowboy singer Slim Clark

Postmark Pursuit by Linn’s Staff

The Saint Albans Historical Society in Saint Albans, Maine, is offering a pictorial postmark picturing a cowboy hat and guitar commemorating the life and music of Raymond LeRoy Clark (1917– 2000), known professionally as Yodelin’ Slim Clark. Of note, the postmark spells yodelin’ without an “e.”

Clark was born in Springfield, Mass., where at the age of 15 he began performing at grange halls and fairs. In 1945 Clark began spending his summers in Maine, living in Saint Albans a good part of the time, growing his musical career by playing locally and nationwide.

Clark dedicated almost 70 years of his life to performing authentic cowboy, western and folk music, working on stage, in radio, television, and as a recording artist and songwriter, compiling more than 100 recordings.

In 1947 Clark won the World Yodeling Championship and was later inducted into the Yodeler’s Hall of Fame, along with Jimmie Rodgers, Elton Britt and Wilf Carter.

He remained true to his love of cowboy music throughout his career, and although living most of his life in the northeastern United States, Clark dressed, sang, rode and lived his life with the heart of a cowboy.

According to the Yoldling Slim Clark website, www.yodelingslimclark.com, looking back on his career Clark said: “I had an interest in cowboy music ever since I was old enough to understand what they were singing about … At the age of 7 or 8, I decided I was going to be a cowboy singer.”

Clark is honored on the Walkway of Stars at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tenn. In 2000, he was posthumously inducted into the Cowboy Hall of Fame, and has also been inducted into the Maine Country Music Hall of Fame, Massachusetts Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rhode Island Country Music Hall of Fame.

To obtain the postmark, address your request to:

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