In Anytown, USA you can find dogs chasing the neighbor’s cat, a car, or his own tail. . But only a Franklin dog chases a career in music.
In fact if you log on to bigdogstudios.net, you’ll see Kelly Garner’s 146-pound St. Bernard listed as part-time manager of a fully-integrated Pro Tools HD3 recording facility in Sullivan Farms. And while most St. Bernards fancy a brandy keg slung around their neck, Clifford could be imagining a Strat.
Kelly actually owns both the dog and the studio. She’s well connected with the Nashville music scene, especially in the realm of Christian music. But “Cliffie” himself does not go unnoticed by her clients.
“He’s happiest when he’s in the midst of the party,” says Kelly. He “gets his feelings hurt” when studio activity makes it best for Clifford to be relegated to his giant-size crate. “But I do it mostly for his safety and just for the pace of the event, to get him out the client’s way,” she explains.
At other times, he crashes somewhere on the floor, usually in the control room close to his owner, and drifts off to sleep…which is fine, except when dreams of running on the Alpine slopes cause him to snort or bark.
“Amazingly, he’s been real good about not barking during sessions,” says Kelly. “The only time I have an issue is when I’m singing demo vocals for a company by myself in the control room. Sometimes Cliff comes in, plops down and then starts to snore! I have had to re-sing a few takes just because the mic picked up a little too much big dog snoring.”
“Cliffie” stands 33 inches at the shoulders. An insulin dependent diabetic that gets nightly injections, he feels much better having lost 53 lbs. this past year. This svelte mahogany splash-coat Franklin dog sits on command, gives a high five and will do most anything for a sugar-free treat.
When Kelly’s giving lessons, Clifford’s been known to join in on the vocal warm-ups. And his howling contribution remained a part of a Christmas project by Kelly’s family through to the final mix.
“Big dreams I guess,” says Kelly. “I’m seriously thinking about doing a recording with him and calling it ‘The Singing Saint!’”
Unquestionably, Clifford is already one of the famous dogs of Franklin.
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