Clif Magness

Clifton “Clif” Magness is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and multi-instrumentalist, best known for co-writing and producing several tracks on Avril Lavigne’s 2002 debut album, Let Go including the song "Losing Grip".[1]

Clif Magness
Birth nameClifton Magness
BornLubbock, Texas, U.S.
GenresPop, rock, adult contemporary, folk/pop, alternative
Occupation(s)Lyricist, singer-songwriter, producer
InstrumentsVocals, guitar, keyboards, drums, bass guitar, programming, engineering
Years active1973–present
Associated actsQuincy Jones, Avril Lavigne, Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken
Websitewww.cliftonmagness.com

At the 33rd Grammy Awards, Magness took home a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocal(s) for the song "The Places You Find Love" from Quincy Jones' album, Back On The Block. He received nominations for an Academy Award,[2] Golden Globe Award,[3] and Grammy[4] for the theme song "The Day I Fall In Love" from the film Beethoven's 2nd.

Collaborations

Magness worked with Lavigne on her multi-platinum[5] debut album, Let Go, co-writing 5 tracks and producing 6, including "Losing Grip", Mobile, "Unwanted", "My World", and "Too Much to Ask". Let Go reached the top of the album charts in Canada and the U.K., as high as #2 on the Billboard 200, and finished the year at #14 on Billboard's 200 Albums for 2002.[6] Prior to leaving New York for Los Angeles to collaborate with Magness, Lavigne was assigned cowriters by her label, Arista, who "failed to click with a girl who'd just discovered guitar-based rock.[7] Magness gave Lavigne the creative freedom she desired. "The harder-rocking songs on Let Go – specifically “Losing Grip” and “Unwanted” – had the sound she wanted for the whole album."[8]

Following up his collaboration with Lavigne, Magness went on to work with American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson on her debut album Thankful. The #1 album[9] featured two productions by Magness. He co-wrote and produced two songs from Clarkson's multi-platinum[10] second album, Breakaway. Magness also produced five songs for another American Idol contestant, Clay Aiken, on his debut album, Measure of a Man, including the single "Solitaire", which topped the 2004 Canadian chart for 4 weeks. Magness produced the longest radio air played song in Australian history,[11] "Perfect", for Vanessa Amorosi.

Magness co-wrote the first single "Lights Out" and five other songs with Lisa Marie Presley from her debut album, To Whom It May Concern. The album debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 album chart.[12]

Early in his career, Magness co-wrote and produced the title track "All I Need" on Jack Wagner's debut album All I Need. In 1985, the song spent 2 weeks at the top of Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart.[13] In 1990, Magness' collaboration with songwriter Steve Kipner resulted in a Billboard top 5[14] single for Wilson Phillips' "Impulsive".

Magness has also either co-written and/or produced tracks for Celine Dion, Jessica Simpson, Amy Grant, Hanson, Steve Perry, O-Town, Charlotte Martin, Rachel Loy, Wild Orchid, Judith Owen, Jude, Joe Bonamassa, The Urge, Kyle Vincent, Marie Digby, Andreya Triana, Days Difference, Ill Scarlett, Ivy Lies, Christina Grimmie, Caroline Sunshine, Jermaine Jackson, Barbra Streisand, Julio Iglesias, Sheena Easton, George Benson, and Al Jarreau.[15]

Awards and nominations

Grammy Awards

Academy Awards
  • 1993 - Music (Original Song) - Nominated
    • Carole Bayer Sager, Clif Magness, and James Ingram, for "The Day I Fall In Love" performed by Dolly Parton and James Ingram

Golden Globe Awards
  • 1993 - Best Original Song - Motion Picture - Nominated
    • Carole Bayer Sager, Clif Magness, and James Ingram, for "The Day I Fall In Love" performed by Dolly Parton and James Ingram

Discography as Artist

Non-Album Singles
  • There's Nothing So Expensive as a Woman Who's Free for the Night (1980) (as Clif Newton)
  • Rest of the Night (1980) (as Clif Newton)

Studio albums
  • Solo (1994)
  • Lucky Dog (2018)

with Planet 3
  • A Heart from the Big Machine (1991)
  • Music From the Planet (1992) (European version of A Heart from the Big Machine, with one song replaced)
  • Gems Unearthed (2004)

Soundtrack Contributions
  • The Last Starfighter (1984) (Two songs, Incommunicado and Never Crossed My Mind)

with Marc Jordan
  • Untitled (1997) (Unreleased)

References
  1. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (5 April 2003). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 39–. ISSN 0006-2510.
  2. "Academy Awards Database". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on 16 March 2014. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
  3. "Golden Globe Awards Official Website". The Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
  4. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (18 February 1995). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 9–. ISSN 0006-2510.
  5. "Gold and Platinum". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
  6. "Billboard 200 Albums: 2002 Year-End Charts". Billboard. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
  7. Willman, Chris (1 November 2002). "Avril Lavigne The Anti-Britney". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  8. Eliscu, Jenny (20 March 2003). "Little Miss Can't Be Wrong". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  9. "Clarkson Becomes A No. 1 'Idol' Again". Billboard. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
  10. "Gold and Platinum". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
  11. Staff. "Ralph Carr". Archived from the original on 14 February 2014. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  12. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (26 April 2003). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 70–. ISSN 0006-2510.
  13. "Adult Contemporary - 1985 Archive". Billboard. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
  14. Jay Warner (2008). Notable Moments of Women in Music. Hal Leonard Books. pp. 297–. ISBN 978-1-4234-2951-7.
  15. "Clif Magness credits". AllMusic.com. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
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