During his period with Ellington, he took part in many of the composer's suites and acquired a reputation for his wide range of styles (from swing to hard bop), technical proficiency, and good humor.

[8] After leaving Ellington in 1959, Clark's international recognition soared when he accepted an offer from the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) to become a staff musician.

[11] Terry continued to play with musicians such as trombonist J. J. Johnson and pianist Oscar Peterson,[12] and led a group with valve-trombonist Bob Brookmeyer that achieved some success in the early 1960s.

[13] and in 1967, presented by Norman Granz, he was recorded at Poplar Town Hall, in the BBC series Jazz at the Philharmonic, alongside James Moody, Dizzy Gillespie, Coleman Hawkins, Benny Carter, Teddy Wilson, Bob Cranshaw, Louie Bellson and T-Bone Walker.

In addition to his studio work and teaching at jazz workshops, Terry toured regularly in the 1980s with small groups (including Peterson's) and performed as the leader of his Big B-A-D Band (formed about 1970).

[15] In November 1980, he was a headliner along with Anita O'Day, Lionel Hampton and Ramsey Lewis during the opening two-week ceremony performances celebrating the short-lived resurgence of the Blue Note Lounge at the Marriott O'Hare Hotel near Chicago.

[16] Prompted early in his career by Billy Taylor, Clark and Milt Hinton bought instruments for and gave instruction to young hopefuls, which planted the seed that became Jazz Mobile in Harlem.

[4] Taylor Ho Bynum wrote in The New Yorker that it "captures his gift for storytelling and his wry humor, especially in chronicling his early years on the road, with struggles through segregation and gigs in juke joints and carnivals, all while developing one of most distinctive improvisational voices in music history.

[2][28] Writing in The New York Times, Peter Keepnews said Terry "was acclaimed for his impeccable musicianship, loved for his playful spirit and respected for his adaptability.

Although his sound on both trumpet and the rounder-toned flugelhorn (which he helped popularize as a jazz instrument) was highly personal and easily identifiable, he managed to fit it snugly into a wide range of musical contexts.

[33] Over 250 awards, medals and honors, including: With Gene Ammons With Dave Bailey With Ray Bryant With Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis With Duke Ellington With Stan Getz With Dizzy Gillespie With Johnny Griffin With Johnny Hodges With Milt Jackson With J. J. Johnson With Quincy Jones With Mundell Lowe With Herbie Mann With Gary McFarland With Charles Mingus With Blue Mitchell With Gerry Mulligan With Oliver Nelson With Oscar Peterson With Dave Pike With Lalo Schifrin With Sonny Stitt With Billy Taylor With Cal Tjader With others