Grammy Museum Mississippi will welcome 14-year-old guitar prodigy John Clayton White for a special evening program
Grammy Museum Mississippi will welcome 14-year-old guitar prodigy John Clayton White for a special evening program on Friday, April 10, at 7 pm, hosted in the Museum’s Sanders Soundstage. The Mississippi-born rising blues guitarist has quickly gained recognition for his impressive musicianship and soulful performances at such a young age. Sponsors for this program include Visit Mississippi and Mississippi Arts Commission.
The evening will begin with a 6:00 PM reception, followed by the 7:00 PM performance, offering guests an intimate opportunity to experience White’s extraordinary talent up close in the Museum’s Soundstage.
Tickets are $25 for Museum members and $40 for nonmembers. This program is sponsored by Visit Mississippi and Mississippi Arts Commission.
Tickets are limited and can be purchased at grammymuseumms.org.
As Grammy Museum Mississippi celebrates our 10th anniversary, it’s especially meaningful to spotlight artists from our own state who represent the future of music,” said Emily Havens, Executive Director of Grammy Museum Mississippi. “John Clayton White is an incredible young talent, and we’re thrilled to welcome him to the Sanders Soundstage to share his music with our members, supporters, and the entire Delta community. It’s an exciting moment for the Museum to continue connecting audiences with Mississippi artists whose passion and creativity embody the spirit of our musical heritage.”
This program is part of Grammy Museum Mississippi’s ongoing public events series, which brings nationally and regionally recognized artists, performers, and speakers to Cleveland while supporting the Museum’s mission of education, engagement, and cultural celebration.
ABOUT JOHN CLAYTON WHITE
John Clayton White is a 14-year-old blues guitar prodigy, whose love for music began at a very early age when he received his first acoustic guitar. By age 8, he developed a particular affinity for the electric guitar and was introduced to stage performance. He played for several years with the Mississippi School of Music in Tremont, where he met his mentor Tony Wayne Hooper and fellow band member Rod Talley. In 2021, John Clayton started his band and played at venues all around the Deep South. In June 2023, he was asked to play at the grand reopening of Club Ebony in Indianola, where he took the stage with musical greats Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks along with members of the BB King band. In October 2024, John Clayton and his band took home first place in the Mississippi Delta Blues Society’s regional International Blues Challenge and competed in the International Blues Challenge in January 2025. In addition, John Clayton was selected by the Mississippi Delta Blues Society to be a featured artist in the Youth Showcase at the International Blues Competition in Memphis in January 2025. In October 2024, John Clayton was invited to share the stage with several blues greats on the Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise. Among these were Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Mr. Sipp, Ivan Neville, Kenny Neal, Selwyn Birchwood, Deanna Bogart, and Victor Wainright. In May 2025, John Clayton and his band joined the fun at Ground Zero’s 24th Anniversary Party by opening for John Primer. Ground Zero co-owner Morgan Freeman shared his amazement of the young musician’s talent as he took the stage during the show. John Clayton aspires to become a full-time, professional musician so he can continue to make people happy with his music.
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