John Clare is a great Australian jazz writer. He was born at Maroubra Bay, Sydney, in 1940. His mother and Aunt Joan were in the papers as the Surfing Sisters. Perhaps the only women who went "out the back" and surfed in those days. He left home and school at 14. He played in a rock and roll band in Melbourne and a dance band with friends but his big love has been jazz. Clare's first job was as a layout artist for the Myer advertising department, Melbourne. He has since illustrated and written for most prestige Australian publications, as well as Town and Queen and other magazines in England, America and Germany. He has published four books and had poetry read on the ABC and BBC.