Jim Clancy

In loving memory of a great man. We sing several of his great pieces in our male choir in Norway.

I met Jim and Judy through Zilis. Jim was always so kind and helpful to me and always had a smile on his face! I loved Jim and Judy from the beginning because their love, joy and respect for each other just lit up the room! It was so beautiful!
I am praying for you, beautiful Judy! May you feel the comfort of God´s love and arms wrapped around you during this difficult time!! Love you!

One my all time greatest thrills was getting the sudden opportunity to walk up and shake his hand in the lobby of a hotel in Little Rock Arkansas while at at a barbershop district competition. Many years passed, and my circumstances changed. I had the opportunity to audition with the VM and passed. The next great memory was to shake his hand again as he joyfully welcomed me as a brand new bass in the VM chorus in 2017. Those moments are still precious to me and alive today.

Having experienced his directing of the VM and having a number of one on one conversations with him will always be cherished. He will be missed but never gone, because he will always be there in some of my fondest memories.

So sorry to hear of Jim's passing.

Humble giant would seem to be a contradiction but he epitomised what "Gentleman" really means.

My dad and I were privileged to be British
members of the " Gold Medal Chorus", directed by Jim at the Salt Lake Convention in 2005 and we met and spoke with him at rehearsals.

I also own a straw cowboy hat which was thrown into the audience on the VM's visit to the British Convention.

Please accept our sincere condolences, love and respect at this time of your great loss but, as sincere Christians, know that you will meet again.

Fondest regards,

David Thompson (Plymouth Pilgrimaires)

I first met Jim Clancy face to face back in 1999 as I was moving to the DFW metroplex. I had been singing in smaller choruses previously and figured I'd at least stop in to visit the Vocal Majority to say I'd done it. I fully expected to get a book to follow along and be asked to sit down and watch.

I was quite surprised when Jim Clancy came over to greet me, asked my name, a little about me, and then helped me get a spot on the risers. Even more surprising to me was that he remembered my name when I came back the next week. Of course, that was Jim. He loved people and was genuinely interested in them. He had a true gift of hospitality in making everyone feel welcome and like a person he'd known forever.

Of course, many know of his great gift for music. He could easily pick out one voice and help everyone make the adjustments to bring out the very best in the music and the singers. He would finally hear a song he'd arranged in person and it never failed to surpass his expectations.

Jim Clancy leaves behind a great legacy in both music and family. I'm honored to have met him, grown through his teaching, and performed under his direction.

Thanks for being an inspiration for future chorus members to look up to.

Kenneth Jordan
Acappella Federation

Jim always made one feel as though you were his long-time friend! He had a joyous way about him which made everyone feel comfortable no matter the circumstance. He will be missed by all who knew him! RIP, Jim Clancy

Judy,
I´m so sorry to hear of Jim´s passing.
I can only say, if he was married to you
He had to be a wonderful, thoughtful, loving man.
Prayers and thoughts to you.
Candy Smith Hinz

I was one of those "If you were lucky enough to know Jim Clancy, your life was indeed blessed." singing with the VM for 3 of their early International Championships and concerts with the Morman Tabernacle Choir. He was a man of true leadership and sharing of his talent and musical gifts. I will never forgot those years singing with his chorus. He will be sorely missed, I know, but somewhere in heaven he is leading a magnificent chorus of angels.

Grief can be so hard, but our special memories help us cope. Remembering you and your loved one today and always.

Jim was a wonderfully talented man. He will be missed. Condolences to his family and friends.

Grief can be so hard, but our special memories help us cope. Remembering you and your loved one today and always.

I was so blessed to have been coached by Jim Clancy when I was a member of the Sooner Sensation Show Chorus, which Debbie Hagen Hogan was the Director. He was amazing

To the families of Jim Clancy: He was a wonderful arranger, musician, and he touched so many lives. I will always remember him from Ingleside Baptist Church in Shreveport, LA. May God Bless you in the coming days.
In Christian Love,

Only a few people in my life have made a major impact and Jim Clancy is one of them. Singing with the VM in the 80's and winning two gold medals was a major highlight. Jim's charisma and ability to bring out the best in every singer was phenomenal. RIP and keep all of heaven singing!

God bless you, Mr. Jim Clancy, for your many wonderful contributions to the music world. You have blessed the world with your musical talents. Words cannot express the joy that you brought to millions. I express my condolences to a musical Legend whose life was fully lived. I have enjoyed listening to many of your CDs you have recorded with VM. The Lord willing, through His eternal Providence, doubtless has brought you into His heavenly realms to bring joy to all who are so wonderfully blessed.

Jim Clancy was my friend for nearly two decades, and his passing leaves a deep ache in my heart. We shared countless email conversations, especially after every Dallas Cowboys game, dissecting plays, decisions, and always keeping the faith. Those emails are now treasures I´ll hold onto forever.

In 2008, I was honored to receive the Jim Clancy Award-an experience that meant the world to me, not just because of the recognition, but because it bore his name. Jim had a way of making you feel seen, heard, and valued. When you spoke with him, you knew-without a doubt-that he was truly listening. That gift alone was extraordinary.

To say that Jim was a musical genius almost feels too small. What he built with The Vocal Majority changed lives, mine included. His vision, his relentless drive for excellence, and his ability to move audiences with pure emotion set him apart. But more than that, Jim inspired all of us to be better-not just better singers, but better men.

I loved Jim like a father, and I will miss him more than I can say. The world feels a little quieter without his presence, but his music, his impact, and his legacy will continue to resonate in the lives he touched. And I was blessed to be one of them.

JR Leath

Bless this family - Jim's work will carry on.

We were blessed by the musical spirit of Jim Clancy and the Vocal Majority concerts for over 35 years. He will be sorely missed in our world of the Vocal Majority concerts but we do look forward to Greg Clancy's talented and devoted leadership. Our heartfelt sympathy to his family and our deep appreciation to Jim Clancy, one in a million, for enhancing our lives with his joy and contagious love of singing and the legacy of the Vocal Majority! Charlene and Gilbert Crouch.

Jim, you enriched the lives of every VM member. You will be missed. - Jon Reed

Jim was authentic, genuine, and sincere.
I always looked forward to seeing Jim after our performances. The first time we shook hands he said "Your face! Your eyes are smiling - keep it up, that's your strength. It looks great! "
I wondered about the pleasant remark but every time he saw me, he said the same thing. I realized he looked for encouraging and positive things in the personalities of others. It wasn't a flippant remark that was tossed out, but a serious recognition of a trait that he noticed because he mentioned my same trait to me every time we met.
Jim didn't just use a similar remark for everyone in the chorus, he had remarks that were individual to others because he recognized the different qualities in each one. I got to hear a lot of those praises delivered as I waited my turn to greet him. I'm sure every member remembers the praise big Jim delivered to them. I will, and I treasure it.

So sorry to hear of the passing of Jim Clancy, a giant of a man. He didn't know me, but I grew to know him through the Masters of Harmony of which my husband Charles Stahl was a member for many years. MOH and VM battled it out on the international stage, and when MOH finally got first over VM, what a gracious group of men lead by Jim congratulated with MOH and joined in our joy and celebration of taking the gold medal from VM. He was a first-class gentleman, competitor, teacher, and leader in the barbershop harmony society. He will be greatly missed in the world of barbershopping, but is undoubtedly already singing and arranging music in the heavenly choir above. Rest in peace, Jim Clancy.

As a prior member of The Heart of Texas chorus, Jim Clancy was thought of as the premiere barbershop arranger for songs of Texas. Jim will always be in the hearts and memories of thousands of barbershoppers around the world. God Bless you Jim Clancy.

Thank You for the music and the memories which will live-on for many generations to find, admire and respect your musicianship long into the future.
Thank You for your dedication to drive the VM to be the very best for decade after decade providing great memories both for those who have been a part of the `vocal brotherhood´ and those who have ever listened or watched the very best in action.
Thank You for setting a great example for others in both your personal and musical crusade to help make life better for others.
Your legacy is truly assured.
Rest in Peace now Jim ..

We have enjoyed the VM since 1972 and plan to continue for many years to come, all thanks to Jim.

I had the distinct honor of singing for Jim in 2000 on an Alaskan cruise in a mixed barbershop chorus. It was very special as a woman to have that opportunity and my friends and I have cherished those memories for 25 years telling the stories over and over. It was delightful to meet Jim and Judy and live the experience of singing under his masterful direction for a week. Thank you, Jim, for all you have shared with us. My deepest condolences to his family, friends, chorus members and the barbershop communities who will feel this loss so deeply.

Thanks for the musical memories and demonstrated dedication to the VM, it's members/families and those who enjoyed countless songs...

It was a true pleasure to get to sing with the Vocal Majority under Jim´s direction and getting to sing many of his arrangements. He will be missed.
Randy Smith

Thank you for being such an inspiration to me and so many others. You are a true legend who will never be forgotten. Meeting you in the UK and in Las Vegas at the BHS Convention is something I will never forget. God Bless you. To Judy, Greg and the whole Clancy family, I am sending you all my love and support from the bottom of my heart.

We grew up at Ingleside Baptist Church where his mother Martha Clancy was Minister of music. My dad sang in the choir there and was a bass like Jimmy. He would always tell my Dad what a great bass singer he was. I got to talk with Jimmy at one if the VM concerts we attended. He did a great job with this group and will surely be missed!
Carole Fox Hartfield

Thank you, Jim for allowing me to record some of your incredible arrangements. Your kind hearted spirit was infectious. The phone calls I had with you were truly an honor. Godspeed and God Bless you on your journey home.

-Shawn Gavin Thomas (SGT)

Sincere condolences from Shannon Express in the UK (now A1 Acappella).
The photo shows Jim directing the combined chorus of about 180 men at the BABS 1995 convention in Harrogate, where Shannon Express won their first Gold Medal. Shannon members stayed with VM members in 1999 when attending the International convention in Kansas City. When buying arrangements from Jim, he told me how much he cherished the Shannon locomotive in a glass case, which he kept in his study.

Thank you for your immeasurable kindness to the thousands of singers of all levels of skill you coached over the years. You will always be with us!