Tom Clack(1940-2022)

Best known for his work at Rankin/Bass and Nickelodeon, Tom Courtenay-Clack began his career in audio in 1960, as a studio manager for the BBC. In 1964, he ran off to sea and went aboard a 110 ft. yacht abroad for the Caribbean. From there he took a boat to New London, CT, and he then worked for a company called Cinema-Sound. For six years he created radio commercials for several top advertising agencies in New York. In 1970 he formed Clack, Inc. and continued to work for ad agencies. He gained a reputation for his spots, and later got assignments from major recording companies. In 1976, his business moved, and it was there he forged a relationship with the two founders of the MTV network, the catalyst for a long partnership with them and Nickelodeon, and eventually VH1. In 1983 he took a Land Rover trip throughout Central America and Africa, collecting thousands of recordings and adding to his vast library.

He created many of his own effects, but some of his sounds came from other sources, like from Elektra Records and Hanna-Barbera. Many of his sounds are available on several volumes of "The Premiere Edition" sound effect library from the Hollywood Edge, specifically on volumes 5, 6 and 7, plus on the Cartoon Trax Volume 2 library. There also exists a collection he did with Pro Sound Effects, titled "Clack!" which shares a lot of the same effects with the aforementioned Hollywood Edge libraries.