Cork singer to take on US after clinching record deal

A CORK singer-songwriter has signed a management and album deal that could help her crack the lucrative American market.

Jennifer Clarke, 21, has been signed to Michael Maska, manager of Joe Jackson and former manager of Rickie Lee Jones.

She has also been headhunted for inclusion on a compilation album due for release in the US States in October. It is being produced by Arif Mardin, the genius behind Norah Jones and Aretha Franklin.