About

The Music Bug

Clay picked up his first guitar at age 8 after seeing The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show, just like a million other kids.  Unlike most of those kids, Clay grew his initial interest in music into a lifelong passion and career. By age ten, Clay had joined The Arsenal, his first band, and in middle school he rocked with The Odyssey. Clay studied classical guitar in college and traveled the Pacific North West performing with a variety of rock groups: Good Question, Pilot, CPR, Rod and Clay, and The Click, to name a few.  While Clay enjoyed performing and always knew music would be integral to his life, he had yet to discover his true calling. 

The Recording Bug

A simple tape recorder sparked Clay's interest in recording. He relished in the process of recording a song, playing it back and using the unique perspective of the recording to tweak and improve his music.  Clay’s interest in the art of recording grew while he worked as a session musician for a jingle company in Portland, Oregon. The recording and production process absolutely fascinated Clay!  And so he started to collect his own gear and teaching himself how to use it. He kept at it, experimenting with recording and producing his own music, until other musicians were asking him to record and produce them, too.   The rest, as they say, is history…

SoundSmith Studios

The demand for Clay's recording and producing skills, coupled with his love of the work, led him to officially create SoundSmith Studios.  SoundSmith has now been in business and thriving for more than 20 years.  In that time, the business has continued to grow and expand, both in the physical space of the studio, and in the variety of services offered.  Clay's deepest joy comes from collaborating with musicians and businesses to help them realize their creative aspirations.  We look forward to including YOU as a part of this continuing story of creative creation in the PNW.