Clive started his musical training with the trumpet, but his main instruments now are guitar, bass and keyboards. Continuing his musical studies, he received an MA in composition from New York University. On his first solo CD, Clever Animals, in addition to the vocals, he plays all of the instruments except drums and two of the bass guitar tracks.

As a session player, he was awarded platinum records for his contributions to Hall and Oates "Big Bam Boom" and Freddie Jackson's "Just Like The First Time." Other session credits include: Herbie Hancock,Yoko Ono, Sly Stone, Malcolm McLaren, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Bill Laswell, Bootsy Collins, to mention a few. In the 1980's he released three records; two with his previous bands plus the soundtrack he scored for the 'underground' hit film "Liquid Sky." His original compositions for television are broadcast on all the major U.S. networks as well as in Europe and Japan.

Clive's 'mid-Atlantic' background is reflected in his musical influences and in his compositions and performances. His songs and arrangements cross from ballads to more urgent and unconventional stylings. Fans have described his music variously as eclectic, introspective and surreal. For his current live sets, he has chosen the mostly "unplugged"approach for his songs, performing on acoustic guitar and piano backed by Bob Kaus (bass, guitar, vocals).

He and Bob (known collectively as In Real Time) are also performing their unique brand of atmospheric, instrumental ambient music at art gallery openings in the New York/New Jersey area.

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©2013 Clive Smith