Clark Gayton
Encyclopedia
Clark Gayton is an American multi-instrumentalist, musician, composer and musicians' rights advocate.
Clark studied music with Floyd Standifer, JoAnn Christen, Curry Morrison, Julian Priester
, Joe Brazil and Buddy Catlet while attending Garfield High School. After graduating from high school in 1981, Clark received a scholarship to attend the Berklee School of Music, where he studied with Phil Wilson
, Tom Plsek and Tony Lada. He graduated in 1984 and moved to Oakland before moving to New York in 1987 where he lives to this day.
Since living in New York, Clark has worked and recorded with some of the finest jazz musicians in the world, such as Charles Tolliver
, Lionel Hampton
, McCoy Tyner
, The Duke Ellington Orchestra, the Mingus Big Band
, Ted Nash and Odeon, Ben Allison & Medicine Wheel, the Carnegie Hall Jazz Orchestra, the Count Basie Orchestra
, Clark Terry
, Nancy Wilson, and Ray Charles
. Clark toured with Bruce Springsteen
as part of the Seeger Sessions band. Clark has recorded or performed with Prince
, Rhianna
, Brazilian Girls
, Steel Pulse
, Wyclef Jean
, Queen Latifah
, Quincy Jones
, Sting, Whitney Houston
, Stevie Wonder
, Santana
, Maxwell
, The Skatalites
, and Bad Brains
, to name a few. He performs regularly with his band, Explorations in Dub, at Nublu in New York City. He has appeared in the movies Malcolm X, Sweet and Lowdown, and Kansas City. He has performed frequently with Conan O'Brien's house band as a substitute for Richie "LaBamba" Rosenberg. In addition, he is a strong advocate for musicians’ rights and has been a panelist for discussions about the online and independent music industry.
.
The first two professionally trained musicians on his maternal side were Jules and Deuce Manetta who founded the Pickwick Brass Band who played cornet and trombone, respectively. Deuce, trained classically in France, was said to be the first slide trombone player in New Orleans. Valve trombone was the instrument of choice at the time. Their nephew was Manuel Manetta
. He began on violin and guitar, but did his first paid work as a pianist for Countess Willie Piazza. He played with Buddy Bolden in 1903. By 1910 he had mastered cornet
, saxophone and trombone
. Manuel played at Tuxedo Hall with the Eagle band. He went to Chicago in 1913, then returned to New Orleans, played locally for 5 years. He went to Los Angeles in November 1919 to join Kid Ory
. He returned home shortly afterwards and toured as pianist for with Martels' Family Band, then played piano in Ed Allen's Band on riverboats. He settled down in New Orleans where his versatility and musicianship enabled him to work with many bands and orchestras including Papa Celestine's, Arnold Du Pas and Manual Perez's, and solo work at Lulu White's. In later years he became the most renowned teacher in New Orleans. He gave occasional public appearances well into his seventies, making a specialty of playing two brass instruments simultaneously. Manuel had a sister, Olivia who had three daughters and a son, Lucille (Clark's grandmother, piano), Dolly (Adams, played all instruments, mother of Justin, Placide, and Gerry Adams), Gladys (piano), and Lawrence (trombone). All were born in Algiers.
Biography
Born as Carver Clark Gayton Jr. to Carver Clark Gayton and Mona Marie Lombard, Clark Gayton is a professional musician (trombone, euphonium, tuba, sousaphone, cornet, keyboards, piano), composer and producer.Clark studied music with Floyd Standifer, JoAnn Christen, Curry Morrison, Julian Priester
Julian Priester
Julian Priester is an American jazz trombonist and composer.He has played with many artists including Sun Ra, Max Roach, Duke Ellington, John Coltrane and Herbie Hancock.-Biography:...
, Joe Brazil and Buddy Catlet while attending Garfield High School. After graduating from high school in 1981, Clark received a scholarship to attend the Berklee School of Music, where he studied with Phil Wilson
Phil Wilson
Phil Wilson may refer to:Musicians*Phil Wilson , singer with The June Brides and solo artist*Phil Wilson , American jazz trombonist and educator*Phillip Wilson , American jazz drummerPoliticians...
, Tom Plsek and Tony Lada. He graduated in 1984 and moved to Oakland before moving to New York in 1987 where he lives to this day.
Since living in New York, Clark has worked and recorded with some of the finest jazz musicians in the world, such as Charles Tolliver
Charles Tolliver
Charles Tolliver is an American jazz trumpeter and composer. Tolliver was born in Jacksonville, Florida, where, as a child, he received his first trumpet as a gift from his grandmother. He attended Howard University in the early 1960s as a pharmacy student, when he decided to pursue music as a...
, Lionel Hampton
Lionel Hampton
Lionel Leo Hampton was an American jazz vibraphonist, pianist, percussionist, bandleader and actor. Like Red Norvo, he was one of the first jazz vibraphone players. Hampton ranks among the great names in jazz history, having worked with a who's who of jazz musicians, from Benny Goodman and Buddy...
, McCoy Tyner
McCoy Tyner
McCoy Tyner is a jazz pianist from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, known for his work with the John Coltrane Quartet and a long solo career.-Early life:...
, The Duke Ellington Orchestra, the Mingus Big Band
Mingus Big Band
The Mingus Big Band is an ensemble, based in New York City, that specializes in the compositions of the late Charles Mingus. It is managed by his widow, Sue Mingus and represented by Tree Lawn Artists, Inc.. In addition to its weekly Monday night appearance at the Jazz Standard in New York City,...
, Ted Nash and Odeon, Ben Allison & Medicine Wheel, the Carnegie Hall Jazz Orchestra, the Count Basie Orchestra
Count Basie Orchestra
The Count Basie Orchestra is a 16 to 18 piece big band, one of the most prominent jazz performing groups of the swing era, founded by Count Basie. The band survived the late '40s decline in big band popularity and went on to produce notable collaborations with singers such as Frank Sinatra and Ella...
, Clark Terry
Clark Terry
Clark Terry is an American swing and bop trumpeter, a pioneer of the fluegelhorn in jazz, educator, NEA Jazz Masters inductee, and recipient of the 2010 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award...
, Nancy Wilson, and Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
. Clark toured with Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
as part of the Seeger Sessions band. Clark has recorded or performed with Prince
Prince (musician)
Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
, Rhianna
Rhianna
Robyn Hannah Louise Kenny professionally known as Rhianna, is an English R&B singer.-Early life:...
, Brazilian Girls
Brazilian Girls
Brazilian Girls was a band from New York City known for their eclectic blend of electronic dance music with musical styles as diverse as tango, chanson, house, reggae and lounge. None of the members are actually from Brazil and the only female in the band is Sabina Sciubba. Other members include...
, Steel Pulse
Steel Pulse
Steel Pulse is a roots reggae musical band. They originally formed at Handsworth Wood Boys School, in Birmingham, England, composed of David Hinds , Basil Gabbidon , and Ronald McQueen .-History:...
, Wyclef Jean
Wyclef Jean
Wyclef Jean is a Haitian musician, record producer, and politician. At age nine, Jean moved to the United States with his family and has spent much of his life in the country...
, Queen Latifah
Queen Latifah
Dana Elaine Owens , better known by her stage name Queen Latifah, is an American singer, rapper, and actress. Her work in music, film and television has earned her a Golden Globe award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, two Image Awards, a Grammy Award, six additional Grammy nominations, an Emmy...
, Quincy Jones
Quincy Jones
Quincy Delightt Jones, Jr. is an American record producer and musician. A conductor, musical arranger, film composer, television producer, and trumpeter. His career spans five decades in the entertainment industry and a record 79 Grammy Award nominations, 27 Grammys, including a Grammy Legend...
, Sting, Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston
Whitney Elizabeth Houston is an American singer, actress, producer and a former model. Houston is the most awarded female act of all time, according to Guinness World Records, and her list of awards include 1 Emmy Award, 6 Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, among...
, Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
, Santana
Santana (band)
Santana is a rock band based around guitarist Carlos Santana and founded in the late 1960s. It first came to public attention after their performing the song "Soul Sacrifice" at the Woodstock Festival in 1969, when their Latin rock provided a contrast to other acts on the bill...
, Maxwell
Maxwell (musician)
Maxwell , is an American R&B, funk and neo soul musician. He played an important role in the development of the soul sub-genre, neo-soul.-Early life:...
, The Skatalites
The Skatalites
The Skatalites are a ska band from Jamaica. They played initially between 1963 and 1965, and recorded many of their best known songs in the period, including "Guns of Navarone". They also played on records by Prince Buster and backed many other Jamaican artists who recorded during that period...
, and Bad Brains
Bad Brains
Bad Brains is an American hardcore punk band formed in Washington, D.C., in 1977. They are widely regarded as among the pioneers of hardcore punk, though the band's members objected to this term to describe their music. They are also an adept reggae band, while later recordings featured elements of...
, to name a few. He performs regularly with his band, Explorations in Dub, at Nublu in New York City. He has appeared in the movies Malcolm X, Sweet and Lowdown, and Kansas City. He has performed frequently with Conan O'Brien's house band as a substitute for Richie "LaBamba" Rosenberg. In addition, he is a strong advocate for musicians’ rights and has been a panelist for discussions about the online and independent music industry.
Family influence and early music history
He is the son of Carver Clark Gayton and Mona Marie Lombard and is the great-grand nephew of the legendary New Orleans musician, Manuel "Fess" ManettaManuel Manetta
Manuel "Fess" Manetta was an American jazz multi-instrumentalist. He was a fixture of the New Orleans jazz scene for much of the 20th century....
.
The first two professionally trained musicians on his maternal side were Jules and Deuce Manetta who founded the Pickwick Brass Band who played cornet and trombone, respectively. Deuce, trained classically in France, was said to be the first slide trombone player in New Orleans. Valve trombone was the instrument of choice at the time. Their nephew was Manuel Manetta
Manuel Manetta
Manuel "Fess" Manetta was an American jazz multi-instrumentalist. He was a fixture of the New Orleans jazz scene for much of the 20th century....
. He began on violin and guitar, but did his first paid work as a pianist for Countess Willie Piazza. He played with Buddy Bolden in 1903. By 1910 he had mastered cornet
Cornet
The cornet is a brass instrument very similar to the trumpet, distinguished by its conical bore, compact shape, and mellower tone quality. The most common cornet is a transposing instrument in B. It is not related to the renaissance and early baroque cornett or cornetto.-History:The cornet was...
, saxophone and trombone
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
. Manuel played at Tuxedo Hall with the Eagle band. He went to Chicago in 1913, then returned to New Orleans, played locally for 5 years. He went to Los Angeles in November 1919 to join Kid Ory
Kid Ory
Edward "Kid" Ory was a jazz trombonist and bandleader. He was born in Woodland Plantation near LaPlace, Louisiana.-Biography:...
. He returned home shortly afterwards and toured as pianist for with Martels' Family Band, then played piano in Ed Allen's Band on riverboats. He settled down in New Orleans where his versatility and musicianship enabled him to work with many bands and orchestras including Papa Celestine's, Arnold Du Pas and Manual Perez's, and solo work at Lulu White's. In later years he became the most renowned teacher in New Orleans. He gave occasional public appearances well into his seventies, making a specialty of playing two brass instruments simultaneously. Manuel had a sister, Olivia who had three daughters and a son, Lucille (Clark's grandmother, piano), Dolly (Adams, played all instruments, mother of Justin, Placide, and Gerry Adams), Gladys (piano), and Lawrence (trombone). All were born in Algiers.
As band leader and solo artist
- Clark Gayton & Neatherealm – "Don't Try To Question" CD 1995 (Ritual, Ltd.)
- Neatherealm – "JahMerican Jazz" CD (Ritual, Ltd.)
- Clark Gayton – "Walk the Water" CD 1999 (Ritual, Ltd.)
- Clark Gayton – "Sankofa!" CD 2003 (Ritual, Ltd.)
- Clark Gayton – "Best of Clark Gayton" CD 2008 (Ritual, Ltd.)
As band member or studio artist for the years 2000–2008
- Cornell CampbellCornell CampbellCornell Campbell aka Don Cornell or Don Gorgon is a reggae singer, best known for his trademark falsetto voice, and his recordings at Studio One in the late 1960s and his later work with Bunny Lee in the 1970s.-Biography:Cornel has one of the sweetest falsettos of any Jamaican vocalist and uses it...
– "Big Things" (Trombone) CD 2000 - Peter SalettPeter SalettPeter Joseph Salett is an American singer\songwriter and composer. He is best known as a musician for his song Heart of Mine in the movie Keeping the Faith, his song score for the 2006 film Down in the Valley, and for co-writing the Dracula puppet musical finale, A Taste for Love, in the Judd...
– "Heart of Mine" (Trombone) CD 2000 - Dennis BrownDennis BrownDennis Emmanuel Brown was a Jamaican reggae singer. During his prolific career, which began in the late 1960s when he was aged eleven, he recorded more than 75 albums and was one of the major stars of lovers rock, a sub-genre of reggae...
– "Let Me Be the One" (Trombone) CD 2000 - George Gruntz Concert Jazz Band – "Merryteria" (Trombone) CD 2000
- Monday MichiruMonday MichiruMonday Michiru Sipiagin is a Japanese American actress, singer, and songwriter whose music encompasses and fuses a wide variety of genres including jazz, dance, pop, and soul...
– "4 Seasons" (Trombone, Tuba) CD 2001 - Sting – "All This Time [UK Bonus Tracks]" (Trombone) 2001
- Sting – "All This Time" (Trombone) 2001
- MaxwellMaxwell (musician)Maxwell , is an American R&B, funk and neo soul musician. He played an important role in the development of the soul sub-genre, neo-soul.-Early life:...
– "Now" (Trombone) 2001 - Barney McAllBarney McAllBarney McAll is a jazz pianist and composer.Barney McAll completed a Bachelor of Music at the Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne, studying with pianists Paul Grabowsky, Tony Gould and Mike Nock and with guitarist Doug Devries.He moved to New York City from Australia in 1997 to join...
– "Release the Day" (Trombone) 2001 - Monday MichiruMonday MichiruMonday Michiru Sipiagin is a Japanese American actress, singer, and songwriter whose music encompasses and fuses a wide variety of genres including jazz, dance, pop, and soul...
– "Selections 1997–2000" (Trombone, Tuba) 2001 - Paul PeressPaul PeressPaul Peress is an American drummer, composer and producer, based in New York City.-Background:Paul Peress grew up in Corpus Christi, Texas, and also lived in Kansas City, Missouri for his last 2 years of high school.He has a B.A...
– "Awakening" (Trombone, Horn Arrangements) 2002 - Jah WorksJah WorksJah Works is a roots reggae band from Baltimore, Maryland. They have been a member of the Armed Forces Entertainment since 2002. Since their acceptance, they have travelled and played in Hawaii, The Marshall Islands, Guam, South Korea, Japan, Singapore and Diego Garcia in 2004. Their most recent...
– "Bassmentality" (Trombone) 2002 - Dave StrykerDave StrykerDave Stryker is an American jazz guitarist. He has 21 CD’s as a leader to date, and has been a featured sideman with Stanley Turrentine, Jack McDuff, and Kevin Mahogany, among others...
– "Blue to the Bone III" (Trombone) 2002 - Tom JonesTom Jones (singer)Sir Thomas John Woodward, OBE , known by his stage name Tom Jones, is a Welsh singer.Since the mid 1960s, Jones has sung many styles of popular music – pop, rock, R&B, show tunes, country, dance, techno, soul and gospel – and sold over 100 million records...
– "Mr Jones" (Trombone) 2002 - Bill Mobley and the Space Time Big Band – "New Light" (Trombone, Soloist) 2002
- John Fedchock New York Big Band – "No Nonsense" (Trombone) 2002
- Queen LatifahQueen LatifahDana Elaine Owens , better known by her stage name Queen Latifah, is an American singer, rapper, and actress. Her work in music, film and television has earned her a Golden Globe award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, two Image Awards, a Grammy Award, six additional Grammy nominations, an Emmy...
– "She's a Queen: A Collection of Hits" (Trombone, Horn Arrangements) 2002 - Tom Browne – "Tom Browne Collection" (Trombone) 2002
- Lucky Gaijin a Go-Go – "Happy 55" (Trombone) 2003
- Dan Zanes and FriendsDan Zanes and Friends-History:When Dan Zanes and his wife had a baby, they moved to New York City. Zanes subsequently began playing music with a group of fathers that he had met in West Village playgrounds who were also there with their kids...
– "House Party" (Tuba) 2003 - Julia DarlingJulia DarlingJulia Darling was an award-winning British novelist, poet and dramatist.-Biography:Julia Darling was born in Winchester in 1956 in the house Jane Austen died in...
– "Julia Darling" (Trombone, Trombonium) 2003 - Cannabis Cup Band – "Live Joint" (Trombone) 2003
- MýaMya-A person:* Bo Mya , Chief Commander of the Karen National Union* Mýa , American R&B singer-songwriter and actress** Mýa , a 1998 album by Mýa-A code:* Burmese language, ISO 639-3 code is mya* Moruya Airport's IATA code...
– "Moodring" (Trombone) 2003 - Sting – "Sacred Love" (Trombone) 2003
- Barbershop 2: Back in Business Original Soundtrack (Trombone) 2004
- Ben Allison & Medicine Wheel – "Buzz" (Trombone, Bass Trombone) 2004
- Mocean WorkerMocean Worker-Background:Philadelphia native Adam Dorn is the son of famous jazz and R'n'B producer Joel Dorn. He grew up around the jazz and R&B discs his father produced for Atlantic Records in the '60s and '70s. As a 15-year-old, he sent a fan letter to bassist Marcus Miller...
– "Enter the Mowo!" (Trombone) 2004 - David Pilgrim – "Island Soul" (Trombone) 2004
- Brazilian GirlsBrazilian GirlsBrazilian Girls was a band from New York City known for their eclectic blend of electronic dance music with musical styles as diverse as tango, chanson, house, reggae and lounge. None of the members are actually from Brazil and the only female in the band is Sabina Sciubba. Other members include...
– "Lazy Lover [EP]" (Composer, Trombone, Vocals (bckgr)) 2004 - Nasio – "Living in the Positive [Bonus Tracks]" (Trombone) 2004
- Brazilian GirlsBrazilian GirlsBrazilian Girls was a band from New York City known for their eclectic blend of electronic dance music with musical styles as diverse as tango, chanson, house, reggae and lounge. None of the members are actually from Brazil and the only female in the band is Sabina Sciubba. Other members include...
– "Brazilian Girls" (Composer, Trombone, Vocals (bckgr)) 2005 - Ted Nash – "Espada de la Noche" (Trombone, Tuba, Horn (Baritone)) 2005
- JJ Sansaverino – "Sunshine After Midnight" (Trombone) 2005
- Elvis CostelloElvis CostelloElvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
– "North" (trombone) 2005 - Various Artists – "Ultra Chilled, Vol. 5" (Trombone, Tuba) 2005
- Kerry Linder – "Sail Away With Me" (Trombone) 2005
- Steven Bernstein – MTO Vol. 1 (Trombone) 2006
- Joss StoneJoss StoneJocelyn Eve Stoker , better known by her stage name Joss Stone, is an English soul singer-songwriter and actress. Stone rose to fame in late 2003 with her multi-platinum debut album, The Soul Sessions, which made the 2004 Mercury Prize shortlist...
"It's a Man's World, Live" (Trombone) 2006 - RihannaRihannaRobyn Rihanna Fenty , better known as simply Rihanna, is a Barbadian recording artist. Born in Saint Michael, Barbados, Rihanna moved to the United States at the age of 16 to pursue a recording career under the guidance of record producer Evan Rogers...
– "A Girl Like Me" (Trombone) 2006 - Nasio Fontane "Rise" (Trombone) 2007
- Duo LiveDuo LiveDuo Live is a live album by Richard Marx and, Vertical Horizon band member, Matt Scannell . Marx and Scannell exhibit both of their acclaimed works and share lead vocals on three songs, including a never before released song...
"The Color Of Money" (Trombone) 2007 - Bad BrainsBad BrainsBad Brains is an American hardcore punk band formed in Washington, D.C., in 1977. They are widely regarded as among the pioneers of hardcore punk, though the band's members objected to this term to describe their music. They are also an adept reggae band, while later recordings featured elements of...
– "Build A Nation" (Trumpet) 2007 - Charles TolliverCharles TolliverCharles Tolliver is an American jazz trumpeter and composer. Tolliver was born in Jacksonville, Florida, where, as a child, he received his first trumpet as a gift from his grandmother. He attended Howard University in the early 1960s as a pharmacy student, when he decided to pursue music as a...
– "With Love" (Trombone) 2007 - Bruce SpringsteenBruce SpringsteenBruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
– "Live in Dublin" (Trombone, vocals) 2007 - East Village Opera CompanyEast Village Opera CompanyThe East Village Opera Company is a rock group co-founded by vocalist Tyley Ross and arranger/multi-instrumentalist Peter Kiesewalter, both Canadians. Vocalist AnnMarie Milazzo was then recruited to provide female vocals. EVOC includes eight other members: two guitarists, a bassist, a...
– "Olde School" (Trombone) 2008 - Brazilian GirlsBrazilian GirlsBrazilian Girls was a band from New York City known for their eclectic blend of electronic dance music with musical styles as diverse as tango, chanson, house, reggae and lounge. None of the members are actually from Brazil and the only female in the band is Sabina Sciubba. Other members include...
– "New York City" (Tuba) 2008 - Lila DownsLila DownsLila Downs is a Mexican singer-songwriter. She performs her own compositions as well as tapping into Mexican traditional and popular music...
– "Shake Away" (Trombone, valve trombone, tuba) 2008 - DispatchDispatch (band)Dispatch is an American indie/roots band. The band consists of Brad Corrigan , Pete Francis Heimbold , and Chad Urmston ....
– "Live Zimbabwe" (Trombone) 2008