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Steve CLAYTON (Angleterre)

Steve « Big Man » CLAYTON was born in Birmingham (GB) on september 1962. A the age of 10 his father persuaded him to take piano lessons. When he was 16 he joined his first blues band. Learning to sing was a real turning point, it let him to song writing, and he became a one man entertainer who would entertain all over the world being hailed as « the Maradonna of the Ivories ». The Big Man has been the choice backing for the blues greats like Magic Slim, Phillip Walker, Karen Carroll, Floyd McDaniels, Louisiana Red, Joe Louis Walker, Jimmy T99 Nelson, Joe Houston and many others. There has been a host of radio and television programmes and countless sessions ; notably his stunning piano playing on the award winning CD « He knows the blues » by Otis Grand. His own recordings feature legends such as S .P. Leary and Lester 'Mad Dog' Davenport. The Big Man has been honoured by the British Blues Connection for being the best piano player in 1995, 1997, and 1998. From Chicago, where the Big Man has recorded and played at Sunnyland Slims 85th birthday party, via Hong Kong where he was backing harmonica star Casey Bell, to Europe where the big man is based and can be seen and heard slogging his way around preaching his own brand of blues and boogie piano. He is now writing and playing better than ever. He plays the blues as good as you could ever hear. But more importantly he has taken the old style and put his own mark on it ; indeed there is no mistaking the unique sound of Steve Big Man Clayton ! Philippe CHARDON

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