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John clayton
With two GRAMMY awards and an additional ten nominations, John Clayton has gained international renown as a composer, arranger, conductor, producer, educator, and an extraordinary bassist in constant demand worldwide.
Playing professionally while still in elementary school, at 16, he enrolled in bassist Ray Brown’s jazz class at UCLA, beginning a close relationship that lasted more than three decades. After graduating he toured with the Monty Alexander Trio (1975-77), the Count Basie Orchestra (1977-79), and settled in as principal bassist with the Amsterdam Philharmonic Orchestra in Amsterdam, Netherlands and as a bass instructor at The Royal Conservatory, The Hague, Holland. Returning to the US in 1985, John Clayton co-founded the award-winning Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra and the Clayton Brothers Quintet, and became recognized worldwide as a first-call arranger.
His resume is an endless list of stars and legends across many genres of music: Ella Fitzgerald, Barbra Streisand, Ray Charles, Etta James, Paul McCartney, Barbara Morrison, Nina Simone, Charles Aznavour, Qunicy Jones, Phil Collins, Natalie Cole, Michael Buble, Dr. John, Queen Latifah, George Benson, Diana Krall, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Count Basie, Hank Jones, Carmen McRae, Milt Jackson, McCoy Tyner, Ray Brown, Gene Harris, Monty Alexander, Randy Brecker, Arturo Sandoval, Rosemary Clooney, Gladys Knight, Whitney Houston, Nancy Wilson, Regina Carter and countless others. Career highlights include the platinum selling arrangement of "Star Spangled Banner" performed by Whitney Houston, GRAMMY-winning albums with Yo-yo Ma ("Songs of Joy And Peace") and Queen Latifah ("Trav'lin' Light"), and conducting Quincy Jones' 85th birthday celebrations at Umbria Jazz Festival and Hollywood Bowl.
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