Hey Everyone and welcome to my site!!! This is my second CD consisting of various styles of music that I have written in the last year of two. This project was recorded in Nashville with the group Blackhawk playing (with the exception of Henry Paul) and Anthony Crawford producing.
Cliff Darby
A Songcatcher Who Sets His Hook In The South
By Karen Trotter Elley
"There are moments in life when creativity flows freely, the words and music are like a wave that sweeps over you," singer / songwriter / musician Cliff Darby says. "Sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn't. I just always try to be there, in case it does." As a result, Cliff devotes a portion of every day sitting with his guitar, opening his mind and heart and waiting to catch a song in the oceans of inspiration swirling around him.
Cliff's love affair with music and ideas started in his teens, fueled by his father who had been an aspiring country music singer. He taught Cliff to sing and play the guitar, and the boy began to win numerous talent contests before he started writing his own songs when he was fifteen years old.
The young performer took the words of his musical idol, James Taylor, seriously. "Play every day," said Taylor, "and take it in front of other people. They need to hear it and you need them to hear it." Hear it they have, all across the Southeast region and around the country where Cliff is well known for his versatile, high-energy performances as well as his unbelievable repertoire of more than 1000 cover songs - not counting nearly a hundred of his own originals.
In the 80's, Cliff signed as an artist with a Nashville independent record label and had the honor of performing on the Grand Old Opry several times. Backed by his band, Bronco Mesa, Cliff performed with and opened for such top name country acts as Ricky Van Shelton, Johnny Rodriguez, Emmylou Harris, Dwight Yoakum, Clint Black, David Allen Coe and others.
But his greatest thrills have been in the songwriting arena. In the year 2000, Cliff's song, "You Can Thank Hank", was the grand prize winner of the Hank Williams' Songwriting Competition held annually in Hank's hometown of Georgianna, Alabama. The next day, Cliff opened the show for Billie Joe Royal, Lorrie Morgan and Hank's daughter, Jet Williams.
In 2003, Cliff was named the "Gulf Coast Idol" after winning first place in a competition held at the Seville Quarter Entertainment Complex in downtown Pensacola, Florida. As a result, Cliff was invited to perform on the main stage at the Pensacola Interstate Fairgrounds as well as asked to sing the national anthem at the Pensacola Ice Pilots hockey season opening game.
The year got even better for Cliff when he earned the prestigious number one spot in Shure's 3rd Annual Musical Roots Songwriting Competition. His original song, "The Paperboy" was chosen from among 1600 submissions from artists across the country writing in every conceivable style and genre. His experience selling GRIT newspapers door to door in his central Florida hometown of DeLeon Springs inspired "The Paperboy", an uptempo, country yodeling song that never fails to bring audiences to their feet, including those at the Grand Old Opry and the world famous Bluebird Café in Nashville, Tennessee. For his efforts, Shure awarded Cliff the cover story in their magazine, Shure On Tour, $ 5000.00 in cash and equipment, plus an all expense paid trip to Anaheim, California where he performed at the world renowned House Of Blues. In addition, he was interviewed by numerous industry and trade publications and made scheduled appearances at the winter NAMM Expo show.
During the past eighteen months, Cliff has completed and released his second full length CD of all original material. The award winning country group Blackhawk backed and played on the album with Anthony Crawford producing. Another recent project involves a song tribute that Cliff wrote about the legendary NASCAR driver, the late Dale Earnhardt Sr., entitled, "The Intimidator." This upbeat tempo, emotionally rousing tune has received national recognition and airplay, with Cliff being featured regularly on the nationally syndicated "JohnBoy & Billy Radio Show."
Seeking to expand his horizons, Cliff has been splitting his time between his home in Pensacola, Florida and his apartment on Music Row in Nashville, Tennessee. Currently seeking a major publishing deal, he is co-writing with established writers and pitching to artists in the country music industry. This versatile entertainer is available for booking as a single act or with his band. For booking information, call 850-478-0298 or visit Cliff online at his website at www.cliffdarby.com.
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