Over $300,000 Raised to Support Double Bassist Affected By LA Fires 

Funds have been raised for the jazz bassist John Clayton, whose house and instruments were lost to the Los Angeles fires

On behalf of the jazz bassist John Clayton, his assistant Gail Boyd and the jazz drummer Jeff Hamilton have set up a GoFundMe to support Clayton, whose family home of 40 years burned down in the devastating Eaton Canyon fire. 

Clayton was in New York City to accept the prestigious Bruce Lundvall Visionary Award from the Jazz Congress before he was told he had lost his house in Altadena. 

“Also consumed by the fire are all of my instruments (yes. I know. That alone is hard to fathom), a lifetime of printed music, scores, recordings, compositions,” Clayton posted on Facebook.

Aiming for $340,000, the fundraiser for Clayton has since raised $327,533 from almost 2,000 donations. To contribute to the fund, click here. 

“We hope you will consider giving to someone that has given so much to so many,” Hamilton wrote.

“I am almost speechless,” Clayton expressed in a video post. “I just want to reach out to you to say … a whole-heart thank you — not only from the bottom of my heart, but my whole heart. I’m just so beautifully overwhelmed and touched by your standing at my side the way you have, and uplifting me in order to help me and my family get back on our feet, and do all the important things that have to happen after something tragic like this occurs. So, I just can’t thank you enough.

“If I were to write a tune, it would be a joyous tune right now — one of the gratitude that I’m feeling and that has me celebrating you — and I wish I could give all of you a really big hug right now … There are no words. I’ll definitely make music with you in mind and buoyed by your support.”

A graduate of the Jacobs School of Music, Clayton has since served as principal bassist with the Amsterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as a bass instructor at the Royal Conservatory in the Hague.

He moved to California in 1985 and co-founded the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra the year after. In 1988, he joined the faculty of the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music, where he taught until 2009. Additionally, Clayton directs the educational programs of the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, Centrum Festival, and Vail Jazz Party.

His career highlights include arranging the “Star Spangled Banner” for Whitney Houston’s 1990 Super Bowl performance, playing bass on Paul McCartney's album Kisses on the Bottom, plus arranging and playing bass with Yo-Yo Ma & Friends on Songs of Joy and Peace. Among his accolades include a GRAMMY Award and eight GRAMMY nominations.