JOHN CLEMENS

VOCAL AND SOUND

John was born in Peoria, IL, attended Oak Grove Grade School and Limestone High School in Bartonville, IL. He has an older sister (Judy Suhomske) and an older brother (Merle Clemens, Jr). He has played several instruments since he was young and sang in local singing groups and bands during high school. He was a member of the Limestone a cappella choir and was chosen to sing with an elite group from that choir called Rockettes and Rocketeers. He was the shortest tenor and a girl named Darlene Hall was the shortest alto thus she stood right in front of him when they performed. The group sang with a piano accompaniment, however, the director wanted to add variety to the program and asked John to play the first guitar accompaniment since the group was established. He was a member of St Johns Lutheran Church in Peoria and sang in the church choir with his dad, Merle Clemens, Sr. Darlene became an important part of his life during his senior year. They dated until he graduated and went to Western Illinois University in Macomb, IL. The following summer, John got a job working the night crew for Kroger food store and asked that Darlene Hall girl to become Darlene Clemens. The beginning of March, three weeks before their wedding day, he was hired by Caterpillar Tractor Company as a four year machinist apprentice. In a year, they had a son (Matt), bought a house and he appeared to be quite successful. Except, John had a void in his life that could not be filled by success. He accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and that is when his life really began. To make life even more wonderful God blessed them with a daughter (Monica). John and Darlene started singing in churches as a duet using the guitar for music and sang a cappella in a quartet with Wanda Hall and Randy Hall (Darlene’s mother and brother). Later they formed a quartet (Testimonials) with Randy and his wife Debi. Singing for the Lord was his ministry so when Caterpillar began to layoff, John took his family south and God opened the door for Hope Street to be formed in Florida.

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