Clint Black just can't say no to film and television appearances.
Famous for his country music, Black began appearing on television and in films in the 1990s - from ''Wings'' and ''The Larry Sanders Show'' to the starring role in ''Still Holding On: The Legend of Cadillac Jack.''
These days, the Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter can be seen on NBC each Sunday night, clashing with Dennis Rodman and Joan Rivers on ''Celebrity Apprentice 2.''
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Clint Black will play the Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena on Friday, April 24. In addition to his music, Black is known for his television and film appearances.
Submitted photo
In a phone interview Thursday with The Post-Journal, Black spoke about his television and film appearances, and how he believes people still know him foremost as a musician.
While some celebrities have used reality television as a way to make themselves more famous, or famous for reasons other than what made them known in the first place, Black said he has always viewed it somewhat as a lark.
''I've done music for so long that even if people were never exposed to my songs, I think they still think of me as a musician,'' Black said. ''I don't imagine people think of me as being 'of this' or 'of that' show. I think they just see me as a musician who is stepping into [television and film] temporarily and either doing it alright or not.'' Through it all, Black has maintained a sense of earnest amazement - admitting he is always surprised when directors and casting agents call his manager with ideas.
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''The thing is, from the beginning, when they call, I can't believe it,'' Black said of being offered parts. ''They tell me somebody wants me to do this or that and y'know, I'm just crazy enough to do it.''
Black's acceptance of television cameos and film roles wasn't always the case. Recalling 1989, when he signed with RCA Records, and his career began to take off, Black said people immediately started to call the agency representing him with offers.
''I just said, 'No, I'm not an actor - and I won't play one on TV,''' Black joked.
After a few years of recording and touring, around 1994, Black said he was exhausted and took a week off from working.
''I told my manager, 'I can't do anything. Don't even call me with offers. I don't even want to know what they are,''' Black said. ''Of course, at this point, nobody was asking me to dig ditches. It was all nice stuff, fun things to do. So about two days into me laying on the couch, he calls and says, 'You're going to want to know about this one.' And it was the movie 'Maverick.' ... Surprisingly, from that point on, even though there was very little actual acting on screen in 'Maverick,' I started getting even more calls from directors who thought I would be good for this or good for that.''
And so it snowballed, with Black doing everything from stand-up comedy on an episode of ''Secret Talents of the Stars'' to playing a masseur in ''Anger Management.''
On break from ''Celebrity Apprentice 2,'' Black will play the Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena on Friday night with local opening act the Steve Johnson Band.
''We're just getting started,'' Black said of his coming tour. ''We're going to do four cities this next week and then I'm going to go up to Canada to shoot a part in a straight-to-DVD movie. Then I head down to New York for the finale of 'Celebrity Apprentice' and then I go back out on the road.'
Of this Friday night's show at the Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena, Black said concert-goers can expect a stellar set of all the hits from throughout his career.
''And if that's not enough for fans,'' Black added. ''We are going to reenact the Dennis Rodman dust up live on stage... Not really."
For more about Clint Black's music and his Jamestown concert this weekend, see the related story also in today's edition of The Post-Journal. For Black's thoughts about the Internet and its role today in the music industry, visit ''The Dean's List'' blog online at www.Post-Journal.com.