Clennis High
Who is this smooth playing guitarist/vocalist from Houston Texas, one may ask. In short, he's probably someone you have heard playing behind some well known artist on old school records, or maybe singing background on some gospel records you've heard if you live in the Texas area. Maybe you live in, or recently passed through the New Orleans area, and heard a soft voice singing "Listen to the Wind", on the radio, a song written as dedication to the people along the gulf coast who were effected by the recent storms in that area.
Meeting a young singer named Archie Bell at Houston's Wheatley high school, Clennis became the original guitarist with the 60s/70s/80s group Archie Bell and the Drells. This group charted a million seller with a dance tune called "Tighten Up". There were others to follow this hit.
Leaving the group to continue his college education, Clennis returned to Houston where he survived by doing studio work, and playing shows beside greats such as Joe Tex, Betty Wright, Roy Head, Gene Chandler, The Impressions, and many more. He states his most exciting time during this period was a period he worked with the dynamic Joe Tex. For many years Clennis was the guitarist for a popular Texas gospel group called the "Gospel Engineers" and has written and song several inspirational tracks often played on local stations in the Houston area.
It is hard to discribe the style of this muscian. Because he has played with so many, he has taken a little from all and combined it into a style of his own. He plays a style of smooth, yet stinging guitar that boarders smooth jazz and gospel. His singing has an unmistakingly "Mayfield" flavor, but at times reminds one of Curtis Womack (Bobby's brother). From these several influences, this guy has created a style that is clearly his. Because his style crosses several genres of music, one is hard pressed to catagorize this stellar muscian into one particular category of music.
The current CD is this artist's first smooth jazz project. The title is "I could dance all night" and is a work dedicated to his music brothers the Drells and Archie. The title song, by the same name, is a remake of a 1980s release by Archie Bell and the Drells. The other two are original vocals written and performed by Clennis. This three song CD is a precursor to a new CD that will be released in February, 2006.
More from this artist, including sounds and samples, at: http://www.clennishighmusic.com
# wj is a contributing author