b. Stanley Marvin Clarke, 30th June 1951, Philadelphia, Pennslvania, U.S.A.
Stanley Clarke was born in Philadelphia in 1951.
His mother was an opera and church singer who encouraged him to study the violin (he later switched to the 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.
stanley clarke, chick corea and al di meola
From 1973 Stanley was being voted top electric bass player in every major music poll.
al di meola, lenny white, stanley clarke and chick corea
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.
school days - 1976 / modern man - 1978 / i wanna play for you - 1979 / rock, pebbles and sand - 1980
These albums include 'School Days' (in 1976), 'Modern Man' (in 1978), 'I Wanna Play For You' (in 1979, including 'Together Again'), 'Rocks, Pebbles And Sand' (in 1980, including 'We Supply'),
let me know you - 1982 / time exposure - 1984 / hideaway - 1986 / east river drive - 1993
'Let Me Know You' (in 1982, including 'Straight To The Top', 'Let Me Know You' and 'New York City'), 'Time Exposure' (in 1984, including Howard Hewett's lead vocal on 'Heaven Sent You'), 'Find Out' (in 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.
In the 2000's, Stanley released a couple of album collaborations with the likes of Chick Corea, Ndugu Chancler, Patrice Rushen, and McCoy Tyner.
In 2003, he released the solo album '1, 2 To The Bass' and 2007's 'The Toys Of Men'.
In 2014, He released the album 'Up'.
Albums:
Children of Forever (One Way Records 1972)
Stanley Clarke (Epic Records 1974)
Journey To Love (Epic Records 1975)
School Days (Epic Records 1976)
I Wanna Play For You (Epic Records 1977)
Modern Man (Nemperor Records 1978)
Fuse One (IMS Records 1980)
Rocks, Pebbles And Sand (Epic Records 1980)
The Clarke / Duke Project, Vol. 1 (Epic Records 1981)
Let Me Know You (Columbia Records 1982)
The Clarke / Duke Project, Vol. 2 (Columbia Records 1983)
Time Exposure (Epic Records 1984)
Find Out! (Epic Records 1985)
Hideaway (Epic Records 1986)
Project (CBS Records 1988)
If This Bass Could Only Talk (Portrait Records 1988)
3 (Epic Records 1989)
Passenger 157 (Sony Music Records 1992)
East River Drive (Epic Records 1993)
Live At The Greek (Epic Records 1993)
Live In Montreaux (Jazz Door Records 1994)
Rite Of Strings (Gai Saber Records 1995)
At The Movies (Epic Soundtrax Records 1995)
1, 2 To The Bass (Epic Records 2003)
The Toys of Men (Heads Up Records 2007)
Up (Mack Avenue Records 2014)
