Four-time Grammy winner, bassist, composer and producer Stanley Clarke was born on June 30, 1951 in Philadelphia. Although he is also an accomplished acoustic bassist with training in classical music, Clarke was one of the first musicians to legitimize the electric bass in jazz.

As a youth his Stanley’s mother encouraged him to study music and he played the accordion, the violin and the cello prior to starting on the acoustic bass while in high school. He also learned to play the electric bass as it allowed him to play in bands that performed more popular music. He played his first paid gig on bass when he was 15. After graduating high school Clarke attended the Philadelphia Musical Academy.

Stanley Clarke’s first appearance on record was as a sideman with trombonist Curtis Fuller. Although his goal had been to be the first Black member of the Philadelphia Orchestra he continued to play jazz gigs in the early 1970s with Stan Getz, Art Blakey, Dexter Gordon, Gil Evans and Horace Silver before meeting Chick Corea and becoming a founding member of the fusion band Return to Forever with whom he played from 1972 until 1977.

Since leaving Return to Forever Clarke has toured and recorded extensively, and not in just in the jazz realm. In 1979 he played in a band called The New Barbarians led by Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood and including Keith Richards. In 1980 he joined with keyboardist George Duke to found the Clarke/Duke Project, and played with Paul McCartney on two albums in the early 1980s.

Along with playing, Clarke has written music for television and movies and received an Emmy nomination for his soundtrack for “Pee-wee’s Playhouse.” He also wrote the scores for the movies “Passenger 57” and “Boyz n the Hood.” In 2010 Clarke founded the Roxboro Entertainment Group. He continues to be active as a performer today.

Here is a link to the tune School Days played live in 2011 during a Return to Forever reunion performance:

"SCHOOL DAYS"