Claytoven Richardson

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Claytoven Richardson
Birth nameClayton D. Richardson
Born (1956-05-23) May 23, 1956 (age 69)
Origin Berkeley, California, U.S.
Genres R&B, pop, jazz
Years active1979–present
Labels Prestige (1979–1980)
MCA (1980–1982)
Fantasy (1983–1984)
Qwest (1985)
Website claytoven.com

Claytoven Richardson (born May 23, 1956) is an American singer, instrumentalist, producer, songwriter, and author. His musical career spans nearly three decades, during which he has been awarded several gold, platinum and multi-platinum awards. [1]

Contents

Early life, family and education

Clayton D. Richardson was born on May 23, 1956, [2] in Berkeley, California.

Larry Batiste, a childhood friend (and later business partner), accidentally fused Richardson's given name with that of the composer Beethoven to form the name "Claytoven." [1]

Career

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, Richardson penned the book The Professional Studio Vocalist (ISBN 1598632795). He has been involved with many educational and literary projects, yet he remains active as a session musician. [3]

Selected discography

[4] [5]

Artist albums

YearTitleArtist
1979On SunshineBill Summers & Summers Heat
1980Call It What You WantBill Summers & Summers Heat
1981Jam the BoxBill Summers & Summers Heat
1982SeventeenBill Summers & Summers Heat
1983Private EyePrivate Eye
1985NsideMakoto

Session work

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

Soundtracks

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

References

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