Clyde J. Connor, a native of Grove, Oklahoma, graduated with a Bachelors of Music Education from the University of Central Oklahoma in 1988. After graduation, Clyde attended the University of North Texas as a graduate student in the Jazz Studies Masters Degree program. While at North Texas, Clyde successfully auditioned for the United States Navy Band Commodores Jazz Ensemble and in the fall of 1989, moved to Washington, D.C. During his stint in the Navy, Clyde was utilized not only as a performing musician, but also as composer and arranger, with many charts to his credit included in regular concert programming and recordings.
Civilian musical opportunities were abundant, and Clyde took full advantage performing regularly at the notorious Blues Alley in Georgetown, at the Big Apple Circus in Reston, Virginia and in countless festivals and shows in Baltimore, Maryland including two seasons as the “Pops” drummer with the Baltimore Symphony. Clyde can be heard on numerous recordings working as a session player at Omega Recording Studios in Rockville, Maryland, with the majority of work in conjunction with major music publishing companies including Barnhouse, Columbia, CP Beldwin and Warner Brothers. In addition to his performing accomplishments, Clyde has had much success in music education, working as a guest artist/clinician in a variety of educational settings.
Clyde can be heard as a freelance drummer performing at various jazz festivals throughout the United States and recording in studios and in-home sessions for publishing companies and other projects.
Artists Clyde has performed with: Jeff Andrews, Louie Bellson (drum duet), Randy Brecker, Pete Christlieb, Ritchie Cole, Bob Curnow, Eddie Daniels, Curtis Fuller, Jon Faddis, Terry Gibbs, Don Grolnick, Milt Hinton, Billy Hunt, Steve Kahn, Barney Kessel, Dave Liebman, Brandon Marsalis, Rich Matteson, Jack McDuff, Don Menza, Tommy Newsome, Dick Oats, Claudio Roditi, Arturo Sandoval, Diane Schurr, Doc Severinsen, Bobby Shew, Lou Soloff, Marvin Stamn, Clark Terry, Stanley Turentine, Chris Vadala, Ernie Watts, Joe Williams, Snooky Young.