An Evening with John Clayton White
Friday, April 10 | Sanders Soundstage
GRAMMY Museum Mississippi will welcome 14-year-old guitar prodigy John Clayton White for a special evening program on Friday, April 10, in the Museum’s Sanders Soundstage. A Mississippi-born rising blues guitarist, White has quickly gained recognition for his impressive musicianship and soulful performances at such a young age.
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.
Tickets
- $25 – Museum Members
- $40 – Nonmembers
Tickets are limited and can be purchased at grammymuseumms.org.
This program is sponsored by Visit Mississippi and the Mississippi Arts Commission and is part of GRAMMY Museum Mississippi’s ongoing public programs series, which brings nationally and regionally recognized artists 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 an early age when he received his first acoustic guitar. By age eight, he had developed a passion for electric guitar and began performing on stage.
He studied with the Mississippi School of Music in Tremont, where he met mentor Tony Wayne Hooper and fellow musician Rod Talley. In 2021, White formed his own band and began performing at venues across the Deep South.
In June 2023, he performed at the grand reopening of Club Ebony in Indianola, sharing the stage with Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks, and members of the B.B. King Band. In October 2024, White and his band won first place in the Mississippi Delta Blues Society’s regional International Blues Challenge, later competing in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis and appearing in the event’s Youth Showcase.
White has also shared the stage with renowned blues artists including Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Mr. Sipp, Ivan Neville, Kenny Neal, Selwyn Birchwood, Deanna Bogart, and Victor Wainwright, and performed aboard the Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise.
In 2025, he opened for John Primer at Ground Zero Blues Club’s 24th Anniversary celebration, where co-owner Morgan Freeman praised the young guitarist’s remarkable talent.
John Clayton White continues to perform across the region and aspires to become a full-time professional musician, sharing his passion for blues music with audiences everywhere.
