Music

IntervIew wIth Cliff Porter

by Dan Pike, Technology coorDinaTor

The music scene at The Club at Hug High School has been steadily growing since it has been hosting music classes for its members. Cliff Porter, one of the members of The Club, is taking his talent and his music to the public. Cliff’s R&B style music is reminiscent of Boyz II Men’s tones and he plays all his music by ear. Cliff’s musical beginnings started when he began attending Traner Middle School in Reno, Nevada. He taught himself piano and took a percussion class from the school. Now he is working on developing his vocals.

Cliff has been with the Boys & Girls Club for about five years and began coming to the site at Hug High School as a freshman. His musical talent began blossoming from youth as he used to watch his father play professionally as a drummer and now is not only following in his footsteps of his father, but occasionally jamming with him in the public scene. On Wednesday nights Cliff and his father play at an event called Flow featured at Bodega Night Club in Reno. Here Cliff and his father get to practice their talents along with other musicians in an open mic night. This event is open to all ages and is a place where musicians swap in and out of sets with each other getting the opportunity to jam with multiple musicians. As Cliff puts it, “It usually starts around 9pm and goes ‘til whenever we decide to stop.”

Cliff’s father currently plays drums for a local Reno band “Jelly Bread” and instilled Cliff with his own found passion for music. Some of his other musical inspirations include Neo Soul, Musiq Soulchild, Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, Stevie Wonder, George Duke, Earth Wind & Fire, and as he says, “I could go on for days…”

As a hobby, musician Cliff would like to begin recording if and when he ever has access to recording equipment, but continues to develop his talent as a musician, “It’s a work in progress.” He would eventually like to teach others how to play and instill his musical passion in them. His hope is that by teaching others how to play that it would, “allow them to have their own outlet.” He sees music as a great outlet for expression and wishes to see others touched by his music “so that it inspires them to be greater.”

Cliff would eventually like to teach others how to play and instill his musical passion in them.

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