Murfreesboro, TN - On Saturday (9/20/2025) night the Smithfork District Tabernacle on Halls Hill Pike came alive with "A Night Remembering Mr. Casey Clark, the Guitar Man". The legendary Marable Twins lovingly put together the tribute to Casey. 

If you ever tuned in to WGNS Radio and heard a spirited voice sparring with Truman Jones, chances are you were listening to Casey Clark—the man Murfreesboro lovingly called “The Guitar Man.” Casey passed away on September 4, 2024, but his voice, his music, and his unmistakable presence still echo through Rutherford County.

Casey wasn’t just a caller. He was a character. A fixture. A friend. His regular call-ins to Truman’s show weren’t just opinionated—they were electric. Bart Walker shared with the audience of telling the former sheriff, “The two of you are more alike than different—neither of you are listening to what the other is saying.” That line became a running joke between Casey and Truman, and soon enough, their on-air banter turned into a warm friendship. Casey graduated from caller to guest, and listeners couldn’t get enough.

But Casey’s story didn’t start on the radio. It started with a guitar. He believed he was the second coming of Jimi Hendrix—and not just in spirit. He played a dream gig with the legend himself. His ear for music was uncanny. From lead and bass guitar to drums and keys, Casey played it all. He taught generations of local musicians, many of whom still say, “I learned from Casey Clark.”

He played in churches, on stages across Middle Tennessee, and in living rooms where music was the language of love. He never owned a car, but somehow always made it to the gig. And once he arrived, he never met a stranger.

The community came out in full force to honor Casey at the Smithfork District Tabernacle. The Marable Twins organized this tribute that was equal parts concert and storytelling sessions. People laughed, cried, and remembered the man who gave so much of himself to others.

Casey’s funeral was as colorful as his life. Outside First Baptist Church on East Castle Street, a horse-drawn hearse carried him through the streets he knew so well, ending at Evergreen Cemetery. It was a final ride befitting a man who never stopped moving, never stopped giving.

Few knew that Casey also made history as the first Black quarterback at Crichlow Grammar School, leading the team to its first win. He lived by the Golden Rule, always helping others, always lifting spirits.

Casey Clark wasn’t just a musician. He was a storyteller, a mentor, a radio personality, and a local legend. Murfreesboro didn’t just lose a guitarist. It lost a heartbeat. But if you listen closely, you can still hear his riffs in the wind, his laughter on the airwaves, and his legacy in every note played by those he taught.

Rest easy, Guitar Man. You’ll always be part of the soundtrack of Murfreesboro.