Guy Clark over the years

Enjoying the unique "listening room" of the Exit/In on Dec. 10, 1975, are songwriter Dick Feller, left; Pat Carter, professional manager of Sunbary-Dunbar Music Inc.; RCA artist Dottie West; and songwriters Susanna and Guy Clark.

The most talked-about single on Music Row and among country fans is "Homegrown Tomatoes" by Guy Clark, sitting here in a tomato patch July 12, 1983. Clark, who has been in town since 1971 writing hits for others, has found one for himself.

Guy Clark, left, and his wife. Susanna Clark. talk with Emmylou Harris during the annual ASCAP Awards gala at the Opryland Hotel on Oct. 16, 1985.

Emmylou Harris, left front, Guy Clark and Nanci Griffith, and Vince Gill, left back, and Rodney Crowell gather at the home of Clark for a night of music May 14, 1999.

Country music stars including Kathy Mattea, Dolly Parton, Roger McGuinn, Lee Nash, Kim Richey, Guy Clark and Radney Foster wait for their cue as a crew prepares to make an IMAX film about country music Sept. 14, 2000, in Cookeville, Tenn.

Guy Clark is in the beginning stages of one of two guitars he is building for 2003 at his home.

When putting the sheets of rosewood together for the back of the guitar, Guy Clark reinforces them with a lattice of braces on what will be the inside of the guitar as he works at his home Jan. 26, 2003.

Guy Clark tests the initial fit of the guitar's rosewood back to the rest of the box while working at his home Feb. 3, 2003.

Attaching the back of the guitar sound box is one of the most subtle stages of the process, according to Guy Clark, working at home Feb. 3, 2003.

Songwriter Guy Clark attaches the binding to his guitar with Elmer's glue as he works at home May 10, 2003.

In the final step, Guy Clark gives the guitar a French polish by starting with a bag of natural Shellac flakes imported from India. The flakes are dissolved in grain alcohol and, with the addition of a drop of walnut oil, are applied to the surface of the guitar as he works at his home May 10, 2003.

Guy Clark takes his No. 8 handmade guitar for a spin for the first time in the basement shop of his home Dec. 27, 2003.

This is the eighth numbered handmade guitar by songwriter Guy Clark on the day it was finished Dec. 27, 2003.

Guy Clark writes songs and builds guitars, which include the slot-head acoustic he's holding at home in his Nashville workshop Sept. 7, 2006.

Guy Clark, left, Rodney Crowell, Will Kimbrough and Verlon Thompson rehearse before Clark's artist-in-residence concert at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on Sept. 13, 2006.

Rodney Crowell, left, and Guy Clark rehearse backstage before performing at Clark's concert at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on Sept. 13, 2006.

Guy Clark works on a set list before his artist-in-residence concert at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on Sept. 13, 2006.

Guy Clark listens as friend and acolyte Rodney Crowell, not pictured, performs at Clark's concert at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on Sept. 13, 2006.

Guy Clark briefly pauses backstage before performing at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on Sept. 13, 2006.

Guy Clark, center, performs with guests Verlon Thompson, left, and Rodney Crowell at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on Sept. 13, 2006.

Guy Clark, left, invites Vince Gill to perform with him at his artist-in-residence concert at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on Sept. 13, 2006.

Guy Clark performs at his artist-in-residence concert at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on Sept. 13, 2006.

Guy Clark performs at his artist-in-residence concert at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on Sept. 13, 2006.

Guy Clark performs "The Randall Knife" in tribute to Vince Gill during the medallion ceremony at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on Oct. 28, 2007.

Guy Clark sings "Bang the Drum Slowly" during a salute to Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Emmylou Harris in Nashville on April 27 2008.

Vince Gill, left, Guy Clark, Kris Kristofferson, Fred Foster, Willie Nelson and Lyle Lovett attend the Leadership Music Dale Franklin Award gala dinner Aug. 29, 2010.

Guy Clark, left, plays with Vince Gill and Keb Mo as they perform during the premiere of the "Music Voyager" episode about Middle Tennessee at the Franklin Theatre on Feb. 15, 2012.

Guy Clark, left, plays with Vince Gill and Keb Mo as they perform during the premiere of the "Music Voyager" episode about Middle Tennessee at the Franklin Theatre on Feb. 15, 2012.

Guy Clark, left, plays with Vince Gill and Keb Mo as they perform during the premiere of the "Music Voyager" episode about Middle Tennessee at the Franklin Theatre on Feb. 15, 2012.

Guy Clark performs for the audience during the premiere of the "Music Voyager" episode about Middle Tennessee at the Franklin Theatre in Franklin on Feb. 15, 2012.

Guy Clark, left, plays with Vince Gill and Keb Mo as they perform during the premiere of the "Music Voyager" episode about Middle Tennessee at the Franklin Theatre on Feb. 15, 2012.

Guy Clark performs at the Americana Music Awards at the Ryman Auditorium on Sept. 12, 2012.

Guy Clark performs at the Americana Music Awards at the Ryman Auditorium on Sept. 12, 2012.

Guy Clark performs for the audience at the ASCAP Awards dinner at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center on Oct. 29, 2012.

Guitar maker and songwriter Guy Clark tunes one of his guitars at his workshop and home July 16, 2013, in Nashville.

Old demo tapes and other music line one of the walls at guitar maker and songwriter Guy Clark's workshop and home July 16, 2013.

Guitar maker and songwriter Guy Clark tunes one of his guitars at his workshop and home July 16, 2013, in Nashville.

Every Guy Clark guitar is signed, numbered and given a thumbprint in blood at his workshop and home July 16, 2013, in Nashville.