With the music of Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix as his earliest inspiration, Clinton Carnegie picked up the guitar in his early teens. As his musical tastes broadened and diversified, he explored and became deeply enchanted by the music of the pioneer fusion bands of the '70s, particularly The Mahavishnu Orchestra and Return To Forever. Inspired, he went on to form several jazz-rock and fusion groups of his own, performing original compositions. At 21, he came to prominence in the Singapore music scene when his fusion band 'Steps' garnered top honours at the 1985 Yamaha Band Competition, performing one of his early original tunes. In 1993, he won the Best Guitarist Award in that year's competition. Clinton was active on the local circuit through most of 1994 and 1995 playing at some of Singapore's more prestigious clubs. In 1995 he was invited to Hong Kong to perform at the 'Trading Licks Guitar Festival' concert as Singapore's representative.
Seeking a different musical perspective, he turned his attention to audio recording and sound engineering, all the while honing his playing and compositional skills and freelancing as a session guitarist and arranger.
In 1998, he established his own record label, Rawsugar Records, to get his music out to the masses. His self-produced debut album, 'Say What You Mean', is the first guitar instrumental fusion album to have come out from Singapore.
In his liner notes he writes:-
"When I made this record, my sole intention was to put to tape the kind of music that was exactly what I wanted to play, unencumbered by any commercial considerations or imposed parameters. Saying what we mean or maybe in this case, playing what we mean, is one of the many responsibilities we have as artists and musicians. And telling the truth is the only thing that really matters when we pick up our instruments."
In 1998 Clinton Carnegie formed 'Vicious - the Fusion Band', made up of the cream of Singapore's jazz musicians, to take his music out on the road.
In August 2000, Clinton Carnegie was signed as a Sony PlanetMG artist
To exercise his rock, blues and country guitar chops, he gigs regularly with the Curtis King Band. He is also in the midst of rehearsing with a yet-to-be-named acid-jazz group which will be hitting the dance clubs very soon.
In July 2001, Clinton was at 301 Studios in Sydney, Australia, recording tracks for his forthcoming album 'Santiago', featuring drummer extraodinaire Chad Wackerman on six cuts. Chad's illustrious musical career began with a seven-year stint with the legendary Frank Zappa. He has appeared on albums and concert videos with the likes of Barbara Streisand, former Police guitarist Andy Summers and fusion maestro Allan Holdsworth. Endorsed by DW Drums and Paiste Cymbals, he continues to perform at drum clinics worldwide, most recently in a video-documented drum duet with Terry Bozzio.
Sydney-based drummer and old pal Clinton Harn appears on two cuts while 'Vicious' sidemen, saxophonist Stephen Rufus and percussionist Reggie Perera grace several tracks. Bassist Andy Peterson is scheduled to add his impeccable grooves in late February 2002. Check out Photo Gallery I - the New Album for pictures of the 301 Studios session.