Clint Darby

Singer/songwriter Clint Darby said he was once losing a battle with addiction that left an emptiness only one true relationship could fill. Now, years later and newly restored through God’s power, grace and mercy, he finds new inspiration through sharing his story with others and using the gift of music to sing God’s praises.

Darby started performing music over fifteen years ago beginning in high school bands, eventually ending up for five years playing in a popular party band called the Second Coming that toured colleges in the southeast. He then enjoyed a full-time solo career as a professional musician and now currently teaches music and art at a local elementary school while continually pursuing his passion for music.

On Darby's newly released Christian album, “God It’s You,” he performs a collection of original works that touch on personal powerlessness, faith, hope, love, and the certainty that God is still restoring lives through miracles.

“For me now it’s about a new life and a new direction with my music. It’s about continually seeking God’s purpose for me and using His gift of music to do something positive. I know that as long as I continue to share my experience and make music to the best of my ability, no matter how big or small God plans for that to be, I will have been successful.”

The community is invited to hear Darby perform his new album at his alma mater, Auburn university at Montgomery, on August 17, 6-8 p.m., on the university quad. The Booker T. Washington Magnet High School chorus will also perform, bringing the third annual AUM Summer Concert Series to a close with a night of inspirational music. Admission is free, but guests are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item for the Montgomery Area Food Bank. Bring your lawn Chairs and picnic blankets. Outside food is welcome, but food vendors will be on site. The show must go on, rain or shine. In case of inclement weather, festivities will be moved to AUM's Baptist Campus Ministry. Learn more at aum.edu/summerconcert. - River Region's Journey

The Song of the Year songwriting contest has awarded Clint Darby the Suggested Artist placement in the song contest. Song of the Year receives entries from all over the world and only the top songwriters receive a Suggested Artist placement in the songwriting competition.

"More information at www.clintdarby.com" - Song of the Year

Montgomerian Clint Darby was living the dream of every aspiring musician.

After earning a bachelor’s degree in fine art from Auburn Montgomery in 2000, he taught at Robert E. Lee High School in Montgomery. Then, his career in music began to take off.

In March 2005, the Montgomery Advertiser called the budding musician Montgomery’s Best Kept Secret. By December of that year, he was named Montgomery’s Best Local Club Act.

During this time he opened up for Al Green at the annual Montgomery Jubilee CityFest. He also finished one point short of placing in the Montgomery Advertiser’s 2005 Battle of the Bands, a bold statement considering he was the only acoustic act of the day.

Darby’s musical career continued to grow from 2004 through 2009 as illustrated by his list of accolades, two full-length CDs – the latest released in 2008 and titled "Farther Away from Home” – a fervent local following and a concert schedule of 200 dates or more. But Darby considers education as his true calling.

"This is my first year working at Wynton M. Blount Elementary School, and it has been a wonderful experience,” the music and art teacher said. "I felt like I have a calling to teach kids.”

Darby gives credit to his father, Don, for encouraging him to become a musician.

"He majored in music while he was in college,” Darby said. "We were always surrounded by music in our house. I enjoyed going with him to his gigs.”

Darby attributes his success in the classroom in part to the close relationships he formed with the professors at Auburn Montgomery.

"I certainly do look up to the professors at AUM,” said Darby, who earned a master’s in elementary education from AUM in 2004. "Dr. Bob Evans had such a positive effect on me. Anytime he offered a class, I took it.” - Auburn University Montgomery

Clint Darby left his role as educator of art to become a multi-album recording artist. As a professional musician, singer and songwriter, he continues to illustrate his talents with over 250 performances each calendar year. Clint developed an appreciation for music when playing in his junior high and high school bands and eventually chose guitar as his primary instrument.
Clint Darby left his role as educator of art to become a multi-album recording artist. As a professional musician, singer and songwriter, he continues to illustrate his talents with over 250 performances each calendar year. Clint developed an appreciation for music when playing in his junior high and high school bands and eventually chose guitar as his primary instrument. Encouraged by family to pursue his passion, he shares a unique musical bond with his father, who has been performing for over 40 years. Clint successfully completed his first priority as an AUM student, earning both a bachelors in visual art and a masters in art education - RSVP Montgomery

Clint currently represents the local musician as part of the new “Capital of Dream’s” campaign that showcases the new downtown riverfront development. - City of Montgomery

Twenty-nine-year-old Clint Darby and 22-year-old Kip Traylor have recently busted out into the Auburn music scene. The two Montgomery natives met here in Auburn only a year ago.

“We actually met at Fat Daddy’s here in Auburn at open mike night last summer,” Traylor said. “We just started jamming together and it went from there.”

Darby had begun to make a name for himself, and adding female vocalist and guitarist Traylor into the mix has proven to be a musical dream.

Darby and Traylor usually perform five nights a week in Montgomery and have recently brought their acoustic act to Auburn. The two perform originals influenced by artists such as Dave Matthews and The Beatles, and covers that range from Damien Rice to Kenny Wayne Sheppard.

The duo has received regional recognition, which has landed them a regional tour throughout Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina beginning in October.
- The Corner News, Auburn AL, 9/08/05

Clint Darby and Kip Traylor have been chosen as the feature artist of the month at "Open Mic Entertainment." - Open Mic Birmingham

Clint and Kip were this years runners up at the Montgomery Advertisers Battle of the Bands. Their 2nd Place finish secured one of only two spots available at this years Jubilee City Fest.

A bold statement as Clint and Kip were the only acoustic act of the entire day! - Montgomery Advertiser

Best Local Club Act 2005 - Clint and Kip - Montgomery Advertiser

Right now, Montgomery's best kept secret may be Clint and Kip.

I checked them out a couple of weeks ago and they put on a show!
- Montgomery Advertiser

Clint Darby's song "Closer" debut ed Sunday June 15th on WXFX 95.1 The Fox during the Consumer Guide to New Rocks' Local's Only hour.

http://www.wxfx.com/music/new_rock.shtml
- WXFXF - www.wxfx.com

Musician Clint Darby loves Montgomery. Yes, it's his hometown, but it's also a place where, if he wanted, he could play guitar and sing his songs every night of the week for the rest of his life, always to a warm, welcoming, perpetually growing audience.

"Montgomery is a good city for musicians -- musicians are valued here," Darby said. "I've played a lot of different places, but the people here seem to be a lot more open to different styles of music."
Still, as much as he loves his town, for his musical future Darby is looking farther away from home.

His new CD, "Farther Away from Home," is a collection of acoustic-based, melodic rock songs with multiple guitar parts and arrangements. He's hoping the CD reaches beyond this region so that more folks can hear him at his best -- and, most importantly, on his own.

Darby, 32, is probably best known as one half of the popular acoustic guitar/vocal duo Clint and Kip. A few years ago, he started writing and performing songs with fellow musician Kip Traylor, a local female vocalist and guitarist. Since then, they've played seemingly nonstop in Montgomery, released an EP and amassed a devoted group of local fans, breaking only to take their act on a couple of tours.

On "Farther Away from Home," however, it's all Clint Darby. On the 10-song CD, he puts his skills as both vocalist and multi-instrumentalist to use, playing not only acoustic and electric guitar but also bass guitar, piano, keyboard, and some percussion instruments. He officially released the self-produced "Farther Away from Home" late last month at the downtown club Off the Wagon, performing for an enthusiastic crowd of around 100.

If you've yet to see Darby perform, it's not because he hasn't been out there. Alone or with Traylor, he averages about 17-20 gigs a month -- the June lineup totals 18 -- mostly at local venues such as 1048, Nobles, Mellow Mushroom, Ruddles and, now, The Exchange at the Montgomery Renaissance Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center.

As with many musicians, Darby's a big presence online. You can not only buy his "Farther Away from Home" ($10), but also hear his songs, watch his videos and read his blogs on his Myspace page, www.myspace.com/clintdarby, or on his personal Web site, www.clintdarby.com .To those accustomed to hearing him as part of a group, listening to his solo work may take you by surprise.

On his own, he said, "I play a different style -- a more rhythmic style -- and I rely on myself vocally as well. With Kip and the band, I'm singing less and playing more lead guitar. Playing by yourself, doing a solo, one-man show, makes your playing style fuller, more interesting and more diverse."

Even as he embarks further on his solo career ("Farther Away from Home" is his second CD, a follow-up to his 2005 self-titled EP), he's still pairing up with Traylor for shows, often with a full band -- Alvin Sawyer on bass guitar/vocals and Josh Oswald on percussion.

But those shows are becoming fewer and far between for Darby.

"I would certainly have to say that I'm more involved in pursuing personal and solo endeavors," he said.

The buzz is generating, and at this point, he said, more than half of his gigs are solo.

Darby's sound is reminiscent of the contemporary artists he's drawn to, such as Mindy Smith and Nickel Creek. But you can also sense the impact of his big, earlier influences like Mississippi blues musician Albert King, jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery, and rock guitar virtuosos Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix.

"I consider myself as a musician first," Darby said, and that applies to songwriting as well as performing. The groundwork for songs, "almost seems to arrive subconsciously," he said of writing music.

It's only after the musical framework is laid down that he works on lyrics, writing about relationships or uncertainties in life, for instance.

"You really don't have an intentional idea for a song," he said. "They create themselves." - Montgomery Advertiser (6/12/08)

Its a great online rock station thats also playing my song “Closer.”
- 1077thexonline.com