Stephen Phillip Clarke

Stephen Phillip Clarke (known to most as SP) was born in Los Angeles, CA on March 21, 1950, to parents Darleen Martin and Joseph Clarke. His family moved to Oregon early in his life, and he has lived in and around the Portland/Salem area ever since. He was the eldest of the Clarke’s four children, who included sister, Janice, and brothers, Mike and Dave.

From an early age his apparent affinity for music shined through. His love for rock music began with Elvis Presley and was inflamed by the Beatles and the British Invasion that hit America in the 1960s. He taught himself piano and guitar and wrote his first song at age fourteen. A songwriter to his core, he wrote or co-wrote hundreds of songs over the years, often inspired by the melodies and lyrical spirit of the Beatles, and even writing one about his special penchant for eating candy.

After playing sports in high school and attending college, he sought out summer employment in agriculture picking raspberries and beans. He then went into door-to-door sales for a local AM radio station. These experiences demonstrated his strong work ethic and independence which carried him through life. He later landed employment with Portland-based music distributor Allegro—a position that both complemented and exercised his passion for music. He was there until 2016.

Music was SP’s lifeblood; it shaped nearly every part of his life. His involvement in the Portland music scene extended back to 1980. He wrote monthly music columns for several Portland-based publications, most notably for twenty years with Two Louies magazine (where he penned the serialized History of Portland Rock), then later with Buko magazine. In that time, he dedicated over two million words to the music and musicians of Portland and beyond, with more than a thousand reviews of various recordings and live shows. As a music journalist, he was thorough, witty, inspiring, and thoughtful.

SP helped form his first rock band at sixteen, but playing in bands became something of a way of life for him. He formed the band Walkie Talkie in 1981, and it was while playing with that band that he first met Billy Rancher, of Billy and the Unreal Gods—with the Walkie Talkies going on to serve as the Gods’ opening act. SP came to know Billy well and developed a deep concern for the young man and his brother, Lenny, as Billy grew ill and tragically died at a young age. In the final year of Billy’s life, he asked SP to tell his story someday, and SP promised he would. Nearly thirty years later, SP Clarke kept that promise, publishing a semi-fictional account of the local rock legend’s life in the novel, The UNreal Gods.

He went on to play in several local bands, including Ed and the Boats in the late 1980s, and off and on in Jesus Presley throughout the 1990s and 2000s. He was also a featured musician at The Trap from 2023. where you were sure to catch him on stage each Wednesday night—his final show being just a week before his passing.

From 2007 to 2020, SP was also an occasional member of the Portland band Sally Tomato. During that time, he co-wrote screenplays, acted, performed live with the band at the Wonder Ballroom, and contributed to the soundtracks of the indie award-winning films Toy Room (2010) and Strange Divinity (2019).

In 1991, Clarke’s poetry was selected for an Alumni Award and was featured in the Silver Anniversary issue of Northwest Passage literary journal, where he published many poems over the years. His poetry was also featured in the anthology 100 Poems, 4 Poets in 2003. His countless songwriting credits include soundtracks for Lew Jones’ The Race and a Portland production of The Belle of Amherst.

SP was married twice before meeting Lesley Lathrop in 2007. Drawn together by their shared love of music and the arts, they built a happy life and a strong commitment, which they solidified through marriage in 2020.

SP Clarke struggled with a genetic heart condition and on January 31, 2026, his body finally succumbed to its effects. He is survived by his wife, Lesley; sister, Janice Clarke-Reiter; brother-in-law, Bruce Reiter; sister-in-law, Kris Clarke; as well as niece, Kelly Clarke; and nephews, Matthew and Jonathan Reiter. SP had many pets throughout his life but particularly loved dogs. He leaves behind his buddies, Benjy and Beanie, who were much adored companions to both him and Lesley.

A private “Birthday Life in Reflection” event is being held to honor him. 

In lieu of flowers, friends are encouraged to make a donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Oregon Public Broadcasting.