Brent Clifton is a songwriter/composer currently living in southern Maryland, USA (looking to retire "soon" back to Texas). I have been writing praise and worship songs for 30+ years now. At least at the start, to be more exact, the Lord sang songs to me (or the Holy Spirit sang to me about the Lord), and I tried my best to write them down. I used to tell people I was more of a "song-writer-downer" of the Lord's songs than a "songwriter." I guess you could say I've matured now into more freedom to express myself without thinking God will get offended if I don't get every word exact. The best songs, though, I think you can still sense the Lord's anointing on.
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
I realized, while looking to see if my site showed up on some of the major search engines, that there's a heck of a lot more people out there named Brent Clifton than I would have thought there were. So in case you're wondering if I'm "that" (Jeffrey) Brent Clifton, I'm -not- the gunsmith, Dallas lawyer, coach (now deceased), Indiana football player, real estate mogul, banker, or the guy in that mugshot.
What formal musical training I had was scattered piano lessons as we moved throughout the West Texas oil patch as a kid, then band (bass clarinet, tenor sax) through junior high, high school, and one year of college. I learned more about playing piano just by doing it in church than any lessons I've had. I accompany the songs on the acoustic piano or Yamaha keyboards, and try to write them just as I play them, which is what it is; no claims of great talent there.
My voice and singing talents are untrained and inconsistent at best, which means I can sometimes surprise myself and sound good. I grew up in the acapella Church of Christ singing from SATB hymnals, and learned what I know of singing there, mostly by listening and imitation. I have been part of a church music ministry in northern Virginia, played and sang a lot of my own and others' songs at a small church in Spring, Texas, then took a break from up-front ministry to spend more time writing the music (which only took 20 years to actually settle into doing!). Was just getting started in another church music ministry in Coldspring, Texas, when God pulled us out with other plans. I currently am the "fill-in" piano player at a church in Prince Frederick, MD.
LIVE SHOWS
I've hit a few open mic nights and done some coffee-shop gigs, played a couple of well-received shows with the Afton Group at Houston's Warehouse Live!, and will play wherever you'll have me. Right now, I'm more focused on songwriting than performing, might need a couple of weeks notice to practice, but would be delighted to share one or several songs with your church, small group, coffeehouse, cafe, wine bar, etc. within a few hours travel. Check this website, my ReverbNation pages or email me (bc(a)jbcmusic.com) for any scheduled gigs.
Any live shows I do are 100% originals, no covers, either Christian or bluesy, folksy Americana, or a mix of both.
ON THIS SITE
Here on this web site are lyrics, sheet music (for sale with occasional free offers), and some audio (mp3 files) for the songs the Lord has given me, at least the ones I've actually finished writing or recording in some form. The last 3-4 years, I've settled into more of a songwriting mode, and got 25 praise and worship songs plus a collection of 10 blues songs formally copyrighted in 2018 thru 2020, more songs ready to submit for 2021, and more songs are coming along. If you want to see or hear more for a specific song or lyric, either beat on me with emails (bc(a)jbcmusic.com) or have lots and lots of patience.
I've printed any finished sheet music from my song-writing software into Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) files. I am now using MuseScore software and will try to keep a rotating selection of free songs at MuseScore.com/jbclifton, but most of the sheet music may be purchased via the JBCMusic Store.
Until further notice, any audio or video recordings posted here or on my ReverbNation pages will be free, just remember they are HOME STUDIO recordings, not commercial quality. My wife and I collaborated on our first lyric video last Easter.
I've got my ReverbNation songs split into two projects due to their policy of searching only artists, not songs, by genre - reverbnation.com/brentclifton is my Christian/Gospel page, and I post my secular songs as singer-songwriter J.B. Clifton, reverbnation.com/jbclifton
LICENSING
The formally copyrighted songs are, and new praise & worship ones will be, licensed for church use through CCLI (Christian Copyright Licensing International, www.ccli.com). I now have 38 songs registered with CCLI and will send in others as I get the songs finished up and copyright registrations submitted. CCLI doesn't supply the sheet music, just licenses the copying or "fixation activity" for church use. Please see the CCLI web site for terms of the Church Copyright License.
Songs not (or until) licensed by CCLI may be freely used in your congregational worship, church service, Christian group meeting, or ministry. I realize COVID-19 has resulted in everyone's songs being streamed live and recorded in virtual church services, and the usual restrictions on broadcasts and recordings are pretty much moot for the time being. That makes it even more important to please report the songs you use to CCLI. If you you would like to share any recordings of these songs, please send me a copy or link, bc(a)jbcmusic.com.
For commercial recordings, publishing, broadcast or paid performance, my entire catalog of formally copyrighted songs, both Christian and secular, is registered with BMI, under Jeffrey Brent Clifton. If you're interested in a song not listed with BMI, please contact me.
Any files obtained from this website may NOT be further distributed on any social media, web site, ftp site, publicly shared file directory, electronic bulletin board, or computer network without the express written permission of the Author.
All rights not granted under BMI or the CCLI Church Copyright License, nor expressly stated on this website, are reserved to the Composer and Author, Jeffrey Brent Clifton dba www.jbcmusic.com.
All Lyrics, Music and content Copyright 1988-2021 Jeffrey Brent Clifton
