Jack Clyde has long been a mystery to collectors and researchers. He appears to have debuted for the Imperial Player Roll Company of Chicago in about March 1915, at which time the Music Trade Review describes him as "a new aspirant for honors in the same (ragtime) field, Jack Clyde. These (artists) do all manner of amazing stunts in ragtimery." Two rolls released by Imperial that month bore his name as performer, 'Show Us How To Do The Fox Trot' and 'I Must Be Falling In Love With You, Dear'.

Eight years earlier,
From his March 1915 debut on, he remained an active member of the Imperial staff until they were absorbed by QRS in 1922, particularly between 1916 and 1919. After Imperial became a subsidiary of QRS and were used as QRS's 'budget' label, Clyde's name begins to appear again, until about 1924 when it disappears for good (along with most of the Imperial artists).

The most likely candidate for the Imperial Jack Clyde is John Leonard Clyde, who was born 4th April 1882 in Putnam, Connecticut and was still alive as of 1942, when he filled in a draft card.

This Clyde is also elusive, appearing in only three official documents - the 1900 census, where he appears to be a musician working at a hotel in Brooklyn, New York. He lists himself as born Jan (or Jun) 1882, in Connecticut and his father as being born in the same state, mother born in Canada.

Some New York Clipper issues show his developing career, the 20 September 1902 issue stating:

Professor John Clyde closed on the Boone circuit of parks Sept. 7, and opened Sept. 8 with the Three Hickman Bros., in "Down and Up".

The 15 November 1902 issue also includes a note from the Hickman Bros.  (theatre and vaudeville impresarios) 

"Down and Up Co." - Good business still prevails....the show is stronger and better than ever.... Jack Clyde is busy arranging new musical ensemble numbers".

A 1903 issue also noted the "Professor"'s initiation into the New Bedford, Mass. lodge of the Ancient Fraternal Order of the Elks.

The 30 January 1904 issue contained the following advertisement:

A No. 1 Leader (PIANO)
AT LIBERTY.
Sober and Reliable. Join at once
JOHN CLYDE, care of Hotel Reynard, New Bedford, Mass.

A June 1907 issue of The Billboard has a Jack Clyde present in Coney Island:

Jack Clyde, a well known musical director, is entertaining the guests
of tbe Clarendon Hotel In Surf avenue this summer.

The 1910 census shows him as married to Catherine (one year his junior) since 1906 with three children (all deceased) and working as a cafe musician. He is, unfortunately, completely absent in the 1920 census as well as the WW1 draft, which cover the years he would have been working at Imperial, so it's very hard to confirm if this is the same man. However, the age seems approximately right, and in the 1930 census he appears as a resident of Bronx, New York, listed as a theatre organist (and boarding with a Cecile Willard, a widow of the same age who is also a theatre organist).

The WW2 draft card shows his middle name as Leonard, age 60, and lists his next of kin as Celia Willard, still living at the same address as he. He states he is unemployed and describes himself as having grey hair, blue eyes, a ruddy complexion and a scar on his face. Around this time, he also applied for a social security benefit, listing his mother as Minnie Suprenant and father as Anthony Clyde.

A death record in the New York City death indexes recently turned up for the same man. Hopefully one day new light will one day be shed on this aspirant for ragtime superstardom!