COUNTRY SPOTLIGHT:

Meet Jake Clayton

Jake Clayton has been steadily building a name for himself on the Country Music circuit over the past eight years playing as a ‘utility musician’ for various recording artists. Currently touring with Country Music artist, Sunny Sweeney (an opening act on the 2011 Brad Paisley H2O II tour), Jake also spent the majority of 2009 on Brad Paisley's "American Saturday Night Tour" as the utility player for opening act, Jimmy Wayne. Having already performed with Country Music stars at legendary venues such as Madison Square Garden and Nashville's 'The Grand Ole Opry', Jake has appeared in two Top20 Country Music videos and several shows on CMT, GAC, and various other national and regional broadcasts in the US. Jake has also had the high honor of playing music with Taoist monks in their monastery at Mt. Laoshan, China along with an appearance on national television in Qingdao & Jinan, China. Jake Clayton's playing and reputation has garnered him endorsements from top companies such as Black Diamond and Supersensitive Strings, Kawai Pianos, Michael Kelly Mandolins, Fishman Transducers, L.R. Baggs Pickups, and more.

Now that Jake Clayton officially entered the music scene as a recording artist with the release of Barnyard Stomp, a genre-bending collection of 12 instrumental songs that combine influences from Country, Bluegrass, Rock, and beyond, he is watching the single, “Kickin’ Up Dust,” fly up the Independent Music Charts. Barnyard Stomp not only showcases Jake’s knack for merging traditional styles with modern sounds, but it also spotlights Jake’s unique abilities on multiple instruments. On this album, Jake played everything except drums and two guest guitar tracks! "I think this album will be a reflection of how I see the music world, one big melting pot of sound!"

Before hitting the stage with the pros in Nashville, the Missouri native honed his craft at hometown venues and community functions around mid-Missouri. Sometimes playing solo shows, sometimes sitting in with other performers, Jake soon started touring with multiple regional bands based around his hometown of Mexico, MO. During this time, Jake opened shows for some of Country Music’s biggest names. Immediately recognized for blending raw talent and crowd-pleasing antics, Jake was quickly lured away from Missouri to the professional world in Nashville.

Since his move to Nashville, Jake has worked with Nashville artists The Oak Ridge Boys, Jamie O’ Neil, Tanya Tucker, Jimmy Wayne, and now Sunny Sweeney. With these artists he has played shows with a long list of Country Music’s biggest names including: Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley, Taylor Swift, Alan Jackson, Jason Aldean, and George Strait. Jake is continuously “singled-out” by reviewers and fans for his charismatic stage presence, and his ‘behind the head’ fiddle trick.

Jake is a multi-instrumentalist with a list of playable instruments that number beyond the 25 years of his age. Although considering fiddle to be his primary instrument, Jake is also proficient on guitar, piano, dobro, banjo, mandolin, lap steel, pedal steel, bass, and more! In total, Jake plays 27 different instruments, which also includes a list of orchestral instruments such as the viola, cello, and stand-up bass.

In addition to live performances, Jake is spending more time in professional studios across Nashville recording tracks for rising Nashville artists. With his rare musical abilities, his growing list of accomplishments, and now his debut album release, Jake Clayton is steadily working to become a highly recognizable name in the music industry.

For more on Jake Clayton and to purchase his music, go to www.jakeclayton.com