Kansas-born composer Jim Claytor is recognized as one of Hollywood’s most innovative musicians. Originally from a small town in Kansas called “Olathe”, and being the oldest of 3 siblings (Joy and Arron), Jim (or James if you prefer) grew up with parents James Sr. and Clarice who to instilled the values of hard work, starting in his formative years.  

Jim entered the world of music by his grandmother “Pearl”, who was the church pianist and Sunday School Teacher. During his grade school years, Jim was so in love with music that he would often skip recess and stay inside just so he could play the organ in the schools music room. By the time middle school rolled around, Jim had switched instruments and started playing the drums, as his father did while he was in school. Finally while still in middle school, Jim had made the marching and concert band, and once entering High School, Jim auditioned for the High school Varsity Marching Band and Varsity concert Band, chorale and Jazz band at the same time, and made all of them, as a sophomore, which was rare for that time.

Soon after graduating High School Jim joined the Frontiersmen Drum and Bugle Corps where he played drums for a couple years and then became the corps percussion/drum instructor. By now Jim was on tour every summer with the corps but wanted to go big (so to speak) and decided to move to Great Bend Kansas and join The world class Argonne Rebels Drum & Bugle Corps with some of the best drum and brass instruction in the world. Several years later Jim had a turning point in his life when he was into Jazz (Fosse) and Ballet dancing. Knowing that in the Kansas City area you can only do so much as a dancer and then you either get too old or you move to the big city, so, he sold everything he had except for what he could fit into his brand new Ford Pinto, and drove to New York. Didn’t like it after a week, so packed up the car again and said, California here I come.

Taking his time and touring 14 states on the way, Jim landed in Long beach California to live with his two friends Lori and Tina. Since dancing was a big part of his life, Jim started dancing everywhere he could, including the TV show Star Search with Ed McMann, a final call back as a dancer for Madonna’s true blue tour, principle dancer for the “Menagerie” dance troupe. At the same time Jim also did part time modeling for the Zoli modeling agency, and some acting with Eddie Murphy, Steve Martin, Whoopie Goldberg, Richard Carpenter (Karen Carpenters brother), Judge Reinhold, Amber Tamblin and several other television and film projects. About three years after being in California Jim continued Dancing and acting, including performing with American Idols Paula Abdul, lead dancer for the rap group D-Funk, (managed by Joe Jackson) Michael Jackson's father. For about the next 6 years the dancing and acting slowed down, and Jim did nothing but work full time, surf the California and Mexico coast almost 5 days a week along with becoming a choreographer for Ms. Fitness USA, Ms. Fitness world, and co-producing a Grammy star studded show in the Los Angeles famous Shrine Auditorium. 

In the early 90’s Jim became homeless and literally lived in his car after living with and taking care of a close friend with a massive drug problem until an intervention had to be done to save her life. Finally, getting back on his feet, Jim’s passion for music resurfaced and he had decided as a career he wanted his music back. So even though he worked full time, he would practice on a small cheap Casio keyboard until about 3am 5-6 days a week. Years later Jim lost his job at the hospital where he worked for over 3 years, and being somewhat panicked, 1 hour and 20 min later he was asked to open and run a brand new million-dollar recording studio overlooking the Pacific Ocean with his new office on the 21st floor in Santa Monica California.

Since then Jim’s career has taken a turn for the better where he now lives at the beach, became a member of the Grammy’s and ASCAP, started his own publishing company, Sports Network and Sports Photography business. Also has been written up in magazines with Grammy/Academy Award composer, Hanz Zimmer, built his own recording studio in Venice Beach called DigitalLiveWire. Currently Jim is producing Recording Kim Lemucchi, scoring a new film, and working with film directors Rick Martini, Meg Thayer and Jules Bagneris.

BIO

Jim Claytor

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