About

The Klute is the most recognizable voice from Arizona on poetry slam’s national stage. He grew up along the shores of the Atlantic Ocean on Palm Beach, Florida where he cultivated a love of sharks to become an activist for their preservation through the medium of spoken word, and has had the privilege of sharing the waves with those fantastic fish, from the great whites of Isla Guadalupe, Mexico to the reef sharks of Egypt’s Red Sea coast. He has represented the cities of Mesa, Phoenix, and Sedona at the National Poetry Slam 10 times between 2002 and 2014 and has opened for spoken word superstars such as Saul Williams and Amber Tamblyn and has been the featured performer in such legendary venues as Vancouver’s Cafe Deux Soliels and New York City’s Bowery Poetry Cafe.

A collection of his chapbooks was published by Brick Cave Media in 2014 (Klutocrypha, Vol.1), and he has had poems published in anthologies by Sergeant Press, Write Bloody,  and Four Chambers Press. In 2016, he traveled the United States in support of his new chapbook “Chumming the Waters”, and in 2017 a full volume of work titled “Words with the Men in Grey Suits”, will be released. Both works are described as “poetry for sharks, by sharks”. The profits from both books are being donated to Fins Attached, a shark conservation organization based out of Colorado Springs.

Jesse Parent, a local curmudgeon and YouTube sensation from Salt Lake City says “The Klute is honest, loud commentary on the political condition. Just because he can be funny doesn’t mean he shouldn’t be taken seriously. His work is skewering in its sharpness and depth, and entertaining in its craft and delivery. Also… sharks,” and Ed Mabrey, a TedX Speaker and Emmy Award Winner, says “The political satire world has its Mount Rushmore: Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, John Oliver, Bill Maher. Using his own chisel and hammer, The Klute has climbed that rock and is etching his own likeness next to them, one insightful poem at a time. It’s no accident, he belongs there.”

The Klute passed away in July 2022.