Buck Clayton was introduced to the trumpet by his father at the age of 7. He began his professional career in California in 1929, playing in variety and dance bands, and spent two years playing in Shanghai (China) from 1934 to 1936. As soon as he returned to the U.S., Count Basie called on his services, and he remained with the band for several years (1936-1943) before being drafted into the U.S. Army, during which time he often played in military bands (1943-1946). In 1947-1948, he toured with producer Norman Granz's Jazz at the Philharmonic (JATP). The following year, Buck Clayton had the opportunity to discover France on his first trip to Europe. Back in New York, singer Jimmy Rushing took him on as a member of his orchestra. He returned to Europe in 1953, joining forces with Paris-based Milton "Mezz" Mezzrow for a European tour. The organizers of the Brussels World Fair (1958) called on Buck Clayton to play with Sidney Bechet for the occasion. From the early '60s onwards, Buck Clayton worked increasingly independently, performing at all the major American and European festivals (with singer Jimmy Rushing, Eddie Condon, Humphrey Littleton, etc.). With his lips badly bruised, he underwent major surgery and ceased all musical activity from 1967 to 1974. In 1977, the State Department sent him on a tour of Africa. He founded his own large band in 1987, playing his own compositions. Buck Clayton can be seen in several films, most notably Valentine Davies' "The Benny Goodman Story" (1955) and Louis and Claudine Panassie's "L'aventure du jazz" (1970). An inventive musician, Clayton frequently uses a mute on his trumpet (wa.wa style).
