Meet Doc Clarke | Apparel creator, Artist Developer,& talent booker.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Doc Clarke and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Doc, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I’m originally (I was born in Oklahoma due to my father being stationed in Air Force. Moved to NY at the age of 4 months old )born to a Jamaican father & Panamanian mother. My father was murdered when I was about 7 or 8 years old. At the time of his passing my mother & I had already moved to California. California raised me. I grew up in the city of Rowland Heights,California. Which is about 30mins outside of Los Angeles. Growing up in Rowland Heights allowed me to be introduced to so many walks of life. Blacks, Hispanics, Caucasian.Asian, you name it. So because of that I’ve always been well rounded and able to adapt and deal with anyone. I love all types of music and that is because of growing up with and around people from different backgrounds. I had no idea at the time being exposed to different cultures would have such a profound impact on my life. May it be dealing with someone who is caucasian in college who has never spoken to a black person in person before, to the biggest “Crip” who terrorized the neighborhood. I was able to converse with both with no problem. All because of my well rounded upbringing.

Please tell us more about your career. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
I would say I’m most proud of being resourceful and resilient. Being able to figure out things in real time while adjusting to the situation. My journey in the entertainment industry is a unique one. What I have noticed is that every step of the way and new challenge I embark. I some how have been able to take what I have learned, while walking through a new door not realizing I was preparing myself for my next chapter. For as long as I can remember I loved to dance and perform. I was the kid that would show out and perform at school or my mother would have me perform at parties. I never in a million years thought I would ever be in a music video, or on tv commercials. Both of those things came to pass and more. While attending Azusa Pacific University studying psychology.All my spare time was spent at different clubs and college dances. Dancing, watching and learning. I would go to UCLA and attend the dances at Ackerman Hall. I was amazed at all of the different dance styles, the fashion, the freshness. I knew that’s what I wanted to do. But how??.. I was at different clubs every week. My grades suffered like nobody’s business. But I didn’t care. While failing in school, I was graduating on the dance floor. One night while dancing at a popular club “Hollywood Live” .I was noticed and approached by singer, dancer,Choreographer Toni Basil(Hey Mickey).She said she liked how I danced and wanted me to audition for her music video she was casting. 2days later there I was in a dance studio which served as the set for music video “Street Life” with other legendary dancers. That day changed my life. From that one encounter with Toni things became a domino effect and I met so many people. That one day put me on tv, took me around the world. Living in Japan for 3 years. Signing a record deal in Japan with Midi Inc./Sony records. Later working at Motown records,
becoming a fashion stylist, artist manager, talent booker, & now staring my own apparel line “Bougie University”. None of these different chapters have been easy at all. They have all been a challenge.But what I’ve learned most about myself is I’m a fighter. I won’t quit. Even when I want to. Times I just want get a normal 9-5 job and forget about everything I’ve been through. I just can’t give up..!I’d feel like they won. Whoever they is! My mother didn’t raise a quitter. I didn’t out live my dad just to have him look down on me with shameful eyes because I gave up. So my brand “Bougie University” encompasses all those qualities. Strength, resilience, uniqueness. The slogan to “Bougie University” is “Where You Can Be U”. That says it all..

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m still a BIG kid at heart. So we would have to hit up Disneyland. There is so much to see and do. Go to all the parks, enjoy the rides,downtown Disney. Make a full day of it. I collect toys, and action figures. Anyone who knows me knows that. So taking them to my favorite store Frank & Son Collectible show is a must. I’m a huge Los Angeles Dodgers fan. I wanted to be Steve Garvey as a kid. Dodgers Stadium is a pretty cool place,so we would have to catch a Dodgers baseball game. As far as food is concerned. My favorite cuisines are Jamaican,Chinese,& Japanese..My favorite restaurant being “The Original Coleys” which is a Jamaican restaurant in Sherman Oaks.. I’m still a big fan of Benihana so that’s a place we would have to visit.. Bubba’s Crab house in the city of Rowland Heights is a place to visit as well.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Hands down the 2 people who I have to recognize more than anyone in my life is my Mother & Grandfather. My mother literally taught me everything I know. Although she was a very strict disciplinarain alot of those lessons and teachings have followed me throughout my entire life. Things that seemed so small and non important at the time made me the OCD person I am today:) Which isn’t a bad thing. Never leave your home without your bed being made. Don’t leave dirty dishes in the kitchen sink.Put things away in their rightful place so when you need it you know exactly where it is. I knew how to do laundry, cook meals, clean our apartment from top to bottom at the age of 10 years old. My mother was both parents to me as well as my sister. She wanted me to be well rounded I guess so I was involved in everything you can imagine. All sports.. Baseball, football,track,basketball. Church plays,I had to learn monologues. I was in the Boy Scouts,Royal Rangers, talent shows. I swear did it ALL. Church Choir.,School choir all 4 years of HS..All of those different things made me who I am today. I’m very diverse and that’s all because of her.My grandfather was a jazz musician,before retiring to pursue gospel music as well as a seamstress & tailor. As a child all my clothing was custom made by grandfather. Suits,Coats,jump suits, everything. That’s where my love for clothing comes from. Because my grandfather played EVERY instrument. I naturally followed in his footsteps. I started with the drums, then piano,& trumpet. I excelled in all of them. But trumpet was what I was best at because that was my grandfather instrument of choice. He was the BEST!.. I played trumpet up to the 9th grade and then I quit. Not really sure why. My love for music,personal style and appearance came directly from my mother & grandfather.

Website: https://Bougieuniversity.com

Instagram: @doc221ent @bougieuniversity2008

Linkedin: Doc Clarke

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/docclarke?mibextid=ZbWKwL

Image Credits
Teal Moss
@beehster.raw
Michael Cruz