Claytoven Richardson

Claytoven Richardson (born 1956, in Berkeley, California) is an American singer, instrumentalist, producer, songwriter, and author.

Claytoven Richardson
Birth nameClayton D. Richardson
Born (1956-05-23) May 23, 1956
OriginBerkeley, California
GenresR&B, Pop, Jazz
Years active1979–present
LabelsPrestige (1979–1980)
MCA (1980–1982)
Fantasy(1983–1984)
Qwest (1985)
Associated actsWhitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, Michael Bolton, Celine Dion, Narada Michael Walden, Michelle Gayle
Websitewww.claytoven.com

Biography

Born Clayton D. Richardson on May 23, 1956.[1] Larry Batiste, a childhood friend (and later business partner), accidentally fused his given name with that of the famous composer to form the name "Claytoven."[2]

Career

His musical career spans nearly three decades, during which he has been awarded several gold, platinum and multi-platinum awards.[3]

In 1979 Claytoven made his recording studio and recording artist debut as a part of the group Bill Summers and Summers Heat. The group recorded one album for Prestige Records and three albums for MCA Records. The group saw moderate success with the songs, "Call It What You Want" and "Jam The Box".

After Summers Heat, Claytoven went on to become a session musician with his first major start singing background vocals for producer Narada Michael Walden on the hit George Benson single "Kisses in the Moonlight". His second recording session was as a guest vocalist and background vocalist on the breakout album "Duotones" for saxophonist, Kenny G. He has since performed on numerous gold and platinum recordings featuring Tevin Campbell, Michael Bolton, Elton John, Peabo Bryson, New Kids on the Block, Ricky Martin, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez, Aretha Franklin, Natalie Cole, Celine Dion, and many others.

After being in the music business for some time he realized a need to increase the pool of well trained professional vocalists. So in 2000 Claytoven also stepped into the role of teacher by founding the "Studio Training Workshop for Vocalists", a workshop designed to help aspiring singers pursue a career as a professional recording vocalist by bridging the gap between the academic and professional music worlds. He currently teaches this and other workshops at San Francisco State University Music/Recording Industry Program and for various other music programs across the country. He now works for the City of Oakland running a local teen center, Digital Arts and Culinary Academy (DACA), along with fellow co-director and musician Andrea President.

In his efforts to further create growth in the professional music community he has also penned the book, "The Professional Studio Vocalist". Though he is involved with many educational and literary projects, he remains active as a session musician.[4]

Selected discography

Discography References,[5][6]

Artist albums

Year Title Artist
1979 "On Sunshine" Bill Summers & Summers Heat
1980 "Call It What You Want" Bill Summers & Summers Heat
1981 "Jam The Box" Bill Summers & Summers Heat
1982 "Seventeen" Bill Summers & Summers Heat
1983 "Private Eye" Private Eye
1985 "Nside" Makoto

Session work

Year Title Artist
1982 "Keep It Live" The Dazz Band
1983 "Love For Love" The Whispers
1984 "Tiggi Clay" Tiggi Clay
1986 "While the City Sleeps..." George Benson
1986 "Duotones" Kenny G
1986 "Fizzy Qwick" Fizzy Qwick
1987 "Whitney" Whitney Houston
1988 "One Moment in Time" Whitney Houston
1989 "Through The Storm" Aretha Franklin
1989 "Stay With Me" Regina Belle
1989 "So Happy" Eddie Murphy
1989 "Night With Mr. C" Clarence Clemens
1989 "A Collection: Greatest Hits...and More" Barbra Streisand
1990 "I'm Your Baby Tonight" Whitney Houston
1990 "It's Supposed To Be Fun" Lou Rawls
1991 "So Intense" Lisa Fischer
1991 "Time, Love & Tenderness" Michael Bolton
1991 "Inner Child" Shanice
1991 "Christmas" Stephanie Mills
1991 "Can You Stop The Rain" Peabo Bryson
1992 "Heaven And Earth" Al Jarreau
1993 "Duets" Elton John
1993 "Soul Dancing" Taylor Dayne
1993 "The One Thing" Michael Bolton
1993 "The Colour of My Love" Celine Dion
1994 "Face The Music" New Kids on the Block
1995 "A Very Fine Love" Dusty Springfield
1995 "Take Me Higher" Diana Ross
1995 "My Cherie" Sheena Easton
1995 "Your Heart's in Good Hands" Al Green
1996 "Soulful Strut" Grover Washington Jr.
1996 "New World Order" Curtis Mayfield
1996 "Miracle" Puff Johnson
1997 "Butterfly" Mariah Carey
1997 "Open Roads" Gary Barlow
1997 "Junction Seven" Steve Winwood
1997 "Open Roads" Kenny Loggins
1997 "Sensational" Michelle Gayle
1998 "In & Out Of Love" Patti Austin
1998 "These Are Special Times" Celine Dion
1998 "A Rose Is Still A Rose" Aretha Franklin
1999 "Marc Anthony" Marc Anthony
1999 "On The 6" Jennifer Lopez
1999 "Lara Fabian" Lara Fabian
2000 "Sound Loaded" Ricky Martin
2001 "Renaissance" Lionel Richie
2002 "A New Day Has Come" Celine Dion
2005 "Blue Highway" Angela Strehli
2010 "Just Charlie" Charlie Wilson
2010 "Soulsville" Huey Lewis & the News
2012 "Yo" Roberto Fonseca
2013 "Memphis" Boz Scaggs
2013 "Sammy Hagar & Friends" Sammy Hagar
2015 "Brown Eyes" Paris (rapper)

Soundtracks

Year Title
1987 "Beverly Hills Cops II"
1989 "Everybody's All American"
1992 "The Bodyguard"
1993 "Mr Wonderful"
1994 "Street Fighter"
- "Jason's Lyric"
- "Crooklyn"
1996 "The Associate"
1997 "A Smile Like Yours"
- "Hercules"
- "In & Out"
- "The Hunchback Of Notre Dame"
1999 "Our Friend Martin"
2001 "Snow Dogs"
2005 "Rent"

References

  1. "California Birth Index, 1905–1995 [database on-line]". United States: The Generations Network. 2005. Retrieved October 7, 2009.
  2. "about Claytoven". United States. Archived from the original on April 2, 2009. Retrieved October 7, 2009.
  3. Claytoven Richardson Archived April 2, 2009, at the Wayback Machine at Claytoven.com
  4. Course Technology Archived July 8, 2011, at the Wayback MachineISBN 1-59863-279-5
  5. Claytoven Richardson at Allmusic.com/Claytoven Richardson
  6. Claytoven at Allmusic.com/Claytoven
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