b. Stanley M. Clarke, 30th June 1951, Philadelphia, Pennslvania, U.S.A.
Born in Philadelphia in 1951, Stanley's mother was a top opera and church singer who encouraged him to study the violin.
He later switched to double bass.
Stanley went on to study at the Philadelphia Music Academy before relocating to New York in 1970.
Here he found work as a session player with artists including Stan Getz, Art Blakey, Dexter Gordon, Gato Barbieri, Deodato, Aretha Franklin and Quincy Jones.
In 1971 Stanley joined forces with Chick Corea and Joe Henderson to form 'Return To Forever'.
He and Chick remained the nucleus of the band until mid 1976 when Stanley undertook his first tour as headlining artist.
From 1973 Stanley was being voted top electric bass player in every major music poll.
He joined Polydor Records for 'Children Of Forever' (1973), featuring Chick Corea,
Dee Dee Bridgewater, (vocals on 'Unexpected Days') and Lenny White.The same year he also wrote and arranged 'Dr. Jive' for Flora Purim on 'Butterfly Dreams', also teaming up with George Duke.
The next year he switched to Nemperor Records (via Atlantic) for 'Stanley Clarke', followed in 1975 by 'Journey To Love', which included 'Silly Putty'.
In 1978, he moved into outside productions, an early project being Dee Dee Bridgewater's 'Just Family' (for which he also co-wrote the title track).
The same year he signed with Epic Records with whom he remained for a long term, combining his funky bass playing wIth guest vocalists and musicians.
These abtiffis include 'School Days' (1977), 'Modern Man' (1978), 'I Wanna Play For You' (1979), including 'Together Again', 'Rocks, Pebbles And Sand' (1980), including 'We Supply', Let Me Know You {1982), including 'Straight To The Top', 'Time Exposure' (1984), including Howard Hewetts lead vocal on 'Heaven Sent You', 'Find Out' (1985), featuring Robert Brookins, and 'Hideaway' featuring the late George Howard, Angela Bofill and Herbie Hancock.
Stanley met Howard Hewett after they shared a recording studio in Los Angeles.
They first worked together when Howard sang with Shalamar.
Stanley worked on the group's album 'The Look', and later co-wrote and produced 'I'm For Real' for Howard's first solo album.
As producer he has also worked with Kent Jordan, Roy Ayers ('In The Dark'), Rodney Salisbury, Rodney Franklin ('Learning To Love' and 'Marathon') , and Ramsey Lewis and Nancy Wilson ('The Two of Us'),'and has also recorded and toured with George Duke as The Clarke / Duke Project.
It was while on tour with The Clarke / Duke Project that Jeffrey Osborne first graced the UK stage as a solo artist.
Stanley has also recorded with McCoy Tyner, Jeff Lorber, Aretha Franklin, Donna Summer ('Dinner With Gershwin'), and was musical director of Fuse One.
His 1995 collaboration with Jean Luc Ponty and Al DiMeola on the acoustic The Rite of Strings are two of his few jazz recordings of the past decade.
Albums:
Children of Forever (One Way 1972)
Stanley Clarke (Epic 1974)
Journey To Love (Epic 1975)
School Days (Epic 1976)
I Wanna Play For You (Epic 1977)
Modern Man (Nemperor 1978)
Fuse One (IMS 1980)
Rocks, Pebbles And Sand (Epic 1980)
The Clarke / Duke Project, Vol. 1 (Epic 1981)
Let Me Know You (Columbia 1982)
The Clarke / Duke Project, Vol. 2 (Columbia 1983)
Time Exposure (Epic 1984)
Find Out! (Epic 1985)
Hideaway (Epic 1986)
Project (CBS 1988)
If This Bass Could Only Talk (Portrait 1988)
3 (Epic 1989)
Passenger 157 (Sony Music 1992)
East River Drive (Epic 1993)
Live At The Greek (Epic 1993)
Live In Montreaux (Jazz Door 1994)
Rite Of Strings (Gai Saber 1995)
At The Movies (Epic Soundtrax 1995)
