In a town not very well known for having a rich and thriving local music scene, seeing a Quincy native writing and playing good-quality original songs and performing in various places comes as a breath of fresh air to me. That breath of fresh air is Mister Devonte Jonvire Clark, a twenty-three-year-old Wendy’s cashier with a love for performing and all things musical.

Since about 2011, I’ve ran into Clark at various concerts and shows and, whether they be at Turner Hall here in Quincy or in a packed living room in Hannibal, he has always stood out to me as a true original talent within the tri-state area. Clark is a folk rock artist who writes, records, and performs both covers of his favorite tunes and original pieces that are more than worth listening to.

I had the chance to sit down and talk to Clark a few days ago at the Y101 studio and get to know a little bit more about him. Though Clark may be a talented folk artist nowadays, he admitted to playing in a Christian metalcore band years ago, showing that he is no one-trick pony. Among his many musical inspirations, Clark cites acts like David Bazan, Bob Dylan, and John Lennon as giving him his musical and songwriting spark. Throughout a given week, Clark plays at the multiple open mic nights at Quincy’s One Restaurant and Bar and The Blind Pig as well as Main Street Wine Stoppe in Hannibal and abroad on occasion.

I asked Devonte Clark to perform one of his original songs live that day, and he graced our camera with “Drinking Rain,” a tune that seems to be about reminiscing on good times with good friends. If you want to see a prime example of what Quincy has to offer the world of music, Devonte Clark suggests people check out his music at www.soundcloud.com/jonvire. Go; listen, and enjoy the sounds of Quincy.

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