“The Voice” and Monmouth alumni Ross Clayton performs for homecoming weekend
Maya Dickerson - Staff Writer
From the set of The Voice to Homecoming weekend, a famous Monmouth College alum performed in concert at Dahl Chapel on Friday, October 7th. Musician Ross Clayton sang some songs featured on his season of The Voice, along with several originals.
“Things that inspire my music are authenticity, in people and in their songwriting. Other musicians bearing their emotions and wearing their heart on their sleeve while writing real, heartful, emotional music inspires me,” said Clayton. “Conceptionally, I write about my life a lot of the time. It is very open book, like here are my feelings at the time.”
As a freshman at Monmouth, Clayton learned to play guitar by watching YouTube. Throughout his years, he sang at college-hosted talent shows, while also playing baseball and being a member of Alpha Tau Omega (ATO).
“Being part of the Greek community was a really enjoyable experience for me. I learned a lot of life lesson stuff there. Just being in ATO and being a part of that was fantastic,” said Clayton.
After graduating with a degree in Communication Studies, Clayton worked as a production assistant for Comcast Sports Net in Chicago, and he then got a job working as an operations manager. In 2014, Clayton moved to Oklahoma City and worked as a product manager in software development.
Throughout his time, Clayton continued to practice his musical skills.
“I got to be on The Voice earlier this year and break into the industry a little bit. That has definitely opened some doors musically,” said Clayton. “So now I am just trying to push through that glass ceiling to become a full time professional musician.”
Clayton’s biggest advice to those looking to follow their aspirations, like him, is to set goals.
“Your dreams can follow you, is what I always say. You need to prioritize what you want in your life as a young person. Start to prioritize your goals,” said Clayton. “You don’t have to have it figured out by the time you graduate.”