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A Child Of The '60s Born Decades Too Late

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By GEOFF FOX

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 20, 2008

ZEPHYRHILLS - Greg Clifton was born 45 minutes before John Lennon was pronounced dead.

That seems fitting.

The 27-year-old clerk at the Sounds Great CD store on Gall Boulevard has an encyclopedic knowledge of most musical genres and a particular penchant for 1960s rock. An accomplished guitarist who plays with classic rock and Christian outfits, he says he can play most popular rock songs from the free-love era.

"And if I haven't played it before, I'm sure I could figure it out," he said. "I've heard all those songs so often."

His knowledge isn't limited to the decade that spawned The Beatles, Woodstock, Vietnam War protests and high-profile assassinations.

On a recent afternoon, Maine native Brad Johnson went into the store on Gall Boulevard, looking for movies starring Bing Crosby and Mario Lanza.

"You've probably never even heard of Lanza," Johnson said.

"I've heard of him," Clifton said. "I didn't know he did movies, but we've had a bunch of his CDs."

The American tenor and movie star, popular in the 1940s and '50s, died in 1959.

The store didn't have what Johnson wanted in stock, but Clifton offered to order them.

Clifton has worked at Sounds Great, owned by fellow guitarist Shane French, since 2002. The following year, he graduated from Saint Leo University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in English, specializing in creative writing.

Although Clifton said he enjoys working at the shop, making music is his real passion.

"My ambition is to bring smiles to people's faces through music," he said. "I don't necessarily want to be rich and famous, just to make a living out of doing music."

He plays what he described as "psychedelic Christian" music, which has Christian-themed lyrics but a guitar sound more reminiscent of Cream.

"Most people think it's crazy to have 'drug music' mixed with Christian lyrics," he said, bemused.

Clifton recently recorded a 10-song solo CD, "The Journey," and joined a Christian rock ensemble. Friday, he performed at Lowry Park Zoo with Frog Belly White, a classic rock band he often plays with.

The Dade City resident said he has been a Christian since about age 12, when he took a tae kwon do class that featured a gospel message at the end. As a child, he said, he endured numerous health issues, including an inability to breathe through his nose and back problems.

"Plus, I'm legally deaf," he said. "I'm totally deaf in my left ear, and I have about 45 percent hearing ability in my right."

Thanks to his faith, though, he doesn't worry about losing more of his hearing, even if performing music eventually becomes a full-time gig.

"You can still feel the vibrations of the music," he said. "All it is is vibrations."

Clifton would know. Besides guitar, he plays bass, keyboards and drums and isn't afraid to sing the Jefferson Airplane's "White Rabbit."

"I sing it just like Grace Slick does," he said. "I can even hit the high notes at the end."

The store's telephone rang as Credence Clearwater Revival thumped from indoor and outdoor speakers.

"Your 'Captain January,' the Shirley Temple movie just came in," Clifton told the caller.

For a while, the store bustled with customers.

People dug through bins of merchandise outside and flipped through rows of CDs and DVDs inside.

Clifton doesn't think the timing of his birth had anything to do with his musical taste.

"I think I just like The Beatles' music," he said. "I don't know a lot in terms of Lennon's solo career. I was always more into Paul and George."

Reporter Geoff Fox can be reached at (813) 779-4613 or gfox@tampatrib.com. Keyword: Everyday People, to watch an interview with Greg Clifton.

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