Salone Theodore Clary, Sr.

Salone Theodore Clary, Sr. (Clary), born to the late Salone Clary and Inez Harris Clary on February 8, 1939, in Portsmouth, Virginia. At the early age of 6, Clary took piano lessons that would forever change and set the destiny of his life. He was a composer, classically trained pianist, organist, teacher, and musical genius.

In 1963, he received his Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Norfolk State University. In 1968, Clary was elected to the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP). He continued his studies and received his Master of Science in Music Education with emphasis on performance at Virginia State University in 1973. He attended post-graduate studies at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. with a major in choral composition and piano.

From 1963 to 2021, Clary served as minister of music, choir director and organist to several churches to include Shiloh Baptist Church in Norfolk, VA, and several Washington, DC churches to include, Sargent Memorial Presbyterian, Zion Baptist Church, Fellowship Baptist Church, Nineteenth Street Baptist Church, John Wesley AME Church, Fifteen Street Presbyterian Church and Largo Community Church in Mitchellville, Maryland.

For more than 60 years, Clary has shared his musical talents with students in the Norfolk, Virginia, Washington, D.C. and Maryland Public Schools. Clary also taught music and piano at Old Dominion University. During the late 1970’s, Clary served as the assistant choral director and composition instructor at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, D.C. It was in the early 1980’s when Clary was offered and accepted the position as assistant band director at Cardozo High School.

He retired from teaching at Laurel High School in 2007 and was sought by the Prince George County Public Schools to return and teach piano lessons for the Center for Visual and Performing Arts at Suitland High School. He also provided private tutoring sessions for music theory and piano to students of all ages including those attending colleges and universities.  

Clary enjoyed composing songs. His first publication of choral music was published by Warner Brothers, New York. Later his music was accepted for publication by GIA Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois. His published choral works are “I Want to Live with God”, “Give Thanks to God”, “Where Shall I Go”, “The Blind Man Stood on the Road and Cried”, “Le’s Have a Union”, “Is There Anybody Here Who Loves My Jesus” and “My Lord’s Risen from the Dead”. Also published by Warner Brothers in 1969, “When You Hear Those Bells”.

He leaves to celebrate his life, his wife, Carolyn Steverson Clary of 57 years, his four children – Salone, Jr. (Tanya); La Vida Clary Mason (Eric); Keith (Monica); and Andrea Clary Silva (Robert). Clary will also be celebrated by his three grandchildren – Tamiika Watson (Danielle), KyMon Clary, and Christian Santos Silva; and three great grandchildren – Kevin Smith, Jr., Niyla Smith and Jet Watson. He was loved by his nephew, Wendell Gray, Sr. and his niece Dr. Wendy VanHosen (Harry), and so many family and friends. He was preceded in death by his sister, Margaret C. Gray.