About Chris ...
Chris is a native of the Windy City, Chicago, Illinois. He's the youngest of four boys, all of whom played musical instruments. Music has been a part of Chris' life as long as he can remember. His parents tell the story of Chris, just five years old, watching as his older brothers practiced thier piano lessons. When his brothers finished practicing Chris would climb onto the piano bench and, without a single lesson or music, he would play the music they had played. Chris' mom and dad decided to find a teacher and give him lessons, but initially had a hard time finding a teacher willing to take on a precocious 5 year old. They finally found a teacher and Chris began private piano and organ instruction.
Chris continued private instruction and classical training after the Clay family moved to Atlanta when he was 7. As a teen, Chris became a 'fill-in musician' at his church and he directed and accompanied church's youth choir. He also lent his talents to local bands, performing and making a name for himself in the Atlanta music scene. He spent a short time away from Atlanta to attend college at Purdue University in Indiana, but returned to Atlanta with a desire to dive into the music scene further. He also began a radio broadcasting career that has spanned more than 2 decades now including 10 years as an air-personality at #1 ranked Gospel radio station in the country: Atlanta's Inspiration Station, Praise 102.5FM.
Chris' 'professional' church music career began when he was asked to fill-in for an organist at his childhood church (Emmanuel Lutheran Church). He progressed from fill-in to part-time, to full-time, to Director of Music quickly, and remained there for 10 years. Chris has been a worship leader/church musician for more than 20 years and has provided musical leadership in worship in a variety of different settings and worship styles; from traditional to modern, from Gospel to Christian contemporary, and he has led worship for gatherings of as few as 10 worshippers in a living room to as many as 40,000 worshippers in the New Orleans Superdome.
Chris currently travels independently, providing leadership for worship experiences, youth gatherings and music /worship workshops all over the country.
Chris continued private instruction and classical training after the Clay family moved to Atlanta when he was 7. As a teen, Chris became a 'fill-in musician' at his church and he directed and accompanied church's youth choir. He also lent his talents to local bands, performing and making a name for himself in the Atlanta music scene. He spent a short time away from Atlanta to attend college at Purdue University in Indiana, but returned to Atlanta with a desire to dive into the music scene further. He also began a radio broadcasting career that has spanned more than 2 decades now including 10 years as an air-personality at #1 ranked Gospel radio station in the country: Atlanta's Inspiration Station, Praise 102.5FM.
Chris' 'professional' church music career began when he was asked to fill-in for an organist at his childhood church (Emmanuel Lutheran Church). He progressed from fill-in to part-time, to full-time, to Director of Music quickly, and remained there for 10 years. Chris has been a worship leader/church musician for more than 20 years and has provided musical leadership in worship in a variety of different settings and worship styles; from traditional to modern, from Gospel to Christian contemporary, and he has led worship for gatherings of as few as 10 worshippers in a living room to as many as 40,000 worshippers in the New Orleans Superdome.
Chris currently travels independently, providing leadership for worship experiences, youth gatherings and music /worship workshops all over the country.