Clif "Bassclif" Stewart was formerly trained in Guitar Course 1 in 1972 by Mr.Lincus,a classically trained guitar instructor.Clif learned his way around the 6 string guitar but found himself easily emulating bass lines on the lower strings.In 1974,after moving to Cairo IL,Clif was recruited into a local band The Soul Keys.He played guitar but was fascinated with bass and drums as they were the backbone of the rhythm section.Having attended a James Brown concert some years earlier while in Chicago,the seed was already planted and with mentoring from another local Cairo IL band The Soul- Phonics(Larry Woods-Bass,Lee Carter-Guitar),Clif was able to "lock' onto the bottom & kick (bass & bass drum) syncopation grooves that are responsible for most of the 70's funkiest grooves ! After a couple of years jammin on the band scene the Soul Keys split up,but Clif was recruited into yet another local band The Sons Of Soul. In 1977 Clif left Cairo and returned to Chicago.He later returned to Cairo IL .In 1979 to join the Golden Angels,a Gospel singing group that included members from both Cairo IL and Sikeston,MO. After the group split in 1985,Clif reunited with guitarist Lee Carter(Soul Phonics) help form the group Romancer,a Soul/Funk Band based in Cape Giraudeau,MO.They spread funk all over Southeast MO,Southern IL & the Midwestern States.In 1987 after the band scene died out and the D.J.'s reigned in the night clubs,Clif returned to Chicago where he sat in with various Blues Bands.In 1995,he joined The Freewill MB Church,filling in for absent drummers during Sunday morning Services.Later,he became the bassist for Freewill's Music Dept.In 2003,he joined the gospel group The Foundations Of Souls and became Music Director for the group.In 2004 Clif was recruited into the group Walter & The New Gospel Shy-Lytes where he served as the group's musical director and produced the groups 1st CD entitled "I'm Going Home." During his stint with The New Gospel Shy-Lytes,Clif has graced the same stage as gospel greats Lee Williams,Albertina Walker,and has provided bass lines for Willie Rogers,lead singer of the Soul Stirrers(New Haven label).In 2005 while playing for both The Foundations of Souls & Walter & The Gospel Shy-Lytes,Clif later joined Chicago recording artist KJAZ and The K-1 Band,a Soul/R&B band based in Chicago,best known for performing Political Campaign events & many outdoor venues.In Dec 2007,Clif stepped down from the Gospel Shy-Lytes but remains a musical consultant to the group,making periodic appearances.During the summer of 2008,Clif was called by nationally known bass player/drummer Ricky Nelson(KoKo Taylor Band) to bass for recording artist Gerald McClendon & The Soulkeepers.And although he still jams with Gerald,kJAZ & most recently Mr G. & The Mystery Blues Band,Clif is a permenant member of the Soul /R&B group "Hitsville Revue," where he shares the stage with band members: Jesse Harvey-Vocals (formerly of The Brighter Sides Of Darkness), Ric Hall-Guitarist (Buddy Guy Band),Osee Anderson(Internationally known Blues Guitarist/Recording Artist) and Brian T, Drums (Mavis Staples,The Dells,Taj Mahal). Clif's James Jameson/Bootsy Collins-style fingering helps to drive the bands funk-filled sound.Clif is currently working on his original project entitled "Phase One," a mix of R&B,funk,reggae spiritual & a bit a techno.No CD release date has been set.
