School of Music Visiting Artist Series
George S. Clinton began his professional musical career as a songwriter, arranger, and session musician in Nashville, while earning degrees in music and drama at Middle Tennessee State University. After graduation, Clinton moved to Los Angeles and became a staff writer for Warner Brothers Music, with songs recorded by such artists as Michael Jackson, Joe Cocker, and Three Dog Night, while arranging and performing session work. He later recorded albums for MCA, Elektra, ABC, and Arista. The critically acclaimed George Clinton Band attracted the attention of a movie producer, giving George the opportunity to score his first film, Cheech and Chong's Still Smokin', and, later, Cheech & Chong's The Corsican Brothers. His musical inventiveness and versatility in both orchestral and popular idioms have allowed him to contribute memorable scores to such diverse films as the hit comedy Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery and its blockbuster sequels and the hit martial arts fantasy Mortal Kombat and its sequel. Most recent projects include the Emmy Award-winning Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee, Hometown Glory, The Tooth Fairy, Extract, and Salvation Boulevard. Clinton has also written several concert works and three musicals. Awards include a Grammy nomination, an Emmy nomination, and 9 BMI Film Music Awards, including their highest honor, the Richard Kirk Career Achievement Award. He serves as an advisor at the Sundance Institute and chairs the Film Scoring Department at Berklee College of Music in Boston.
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