Clayton Cameron

Clayton Cameron has a dynamic career that has spanned almost four decades in the world of music. From Sammy Davis Jr. to Tony Bennett, and even crossing into other genres with artist like Neil Young. Clayton continues to push the envelope of contemporary drumming and the use of brushes to their very limits, earning him the nickname “the Brush Master".

Born in Los Angeles, California the Brush Master began playing bongos at the age of six. By age twelve his fascination with drums became so apparent that his parents decided to buy him his first drum set and sent Clayton to Grants Music Center in LA for drum lessons. “I guess they tired of my oatmeal box drumming as much as I tired of eating those hearty oats every morning." He went on to get a degree in music from California State University at Northridge. During college, he played in clubs around L.A behind artists who were mentors to him. They included vocalist O.C Smith, Ernie Andrews, Jimmy Witherspoon, instrumentalist Teddy Edwards, Larry Gales (of Thelonious Monk fame) and Gerald Wilson.

After touring with the great Joe Williams in 1981 he would go on to be the drummer for the worlds greatest entertainer, Sammy Davis Jr. and hold that position from 1882 to 1990 . “ I got a degree in music from college but I got a masters in show biz from Mr. Sammy Davis Jr." In 1988 Clayton went on the Together Again Tour with Sammy Davis Jr., Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. 

In 1990 a once in lifetime tour with jazz legends Joe Williams, George Shearing and Joe Pass took Clayton around the country. In 1991 he moved to New York City where he would play for the likes of Barry Harris, Kenny Burrell, Rufus Reid and the Mingus Big Band. NYC was jazz heaven. In April of 1992 a life changing call from  Tony Bennett gave the Brush Master’s talents exposer to new audiences. He performed with Tony Bennett for over ten years, recording 13 CDs and winning 13 Grammys including a 1994 Album of the Year. 

From legends to the up and coming the Brush Master continues to inspire and be inspired. Artist Rebecca Ferguson, Molly Ringwald, Dave Koz, Rickey Minor, Neil Young to name a few have all recently stamped their respective projects with Clayton Cameron’s incredible talent.