| Clif Magness | |
| Birth Name: | Clifton Magness |
| Birth Date: | 24 April 1957[1] |
| Birth Place: | Lubbock, Texas, U.S. |
| Instrument: | Vocals, guitar, keyboards, drums, bass guitar, programming, engineering |
| Genre: | Pop, rock, adult contemporary, folk/pop, alternative |
| Occupation: | Lyricist, singer-songwriter, producer |
| Years Active: | 1973–present |
| Associated Acts: | Quincy Jones, Avril Lavigne, Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken |
Clifton “Clif” Magness (born April 24, 1957) 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".[2]
At the 33rd Grammy Awards, Magness won 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,[3] Golden Globe Award,[4] and Grammy[5] for the theme song "The Day I Fall In Love" from the film Beethoven's 2nd.
Magness worked with Lavigne on her multi-platinum[6] debut album, Let Go, co-writing five tracks and producing 6, including "Losing Grip", Mobile, "Unwanted", "My World", and "Too Much to Ask". Let Go reached the top of the albums chart in Canada and the U.K., as high as #2 on the Billboard 200, and finished the year at #14 on Billboards 200 Albums for 2002.[7] 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.[8] 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."[9]
Following up his collaboration with Lavigne, Magness went on to work with original American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson on her debut album Thankful. The #1 album[10] featured two productions by Magness. He co-wrote and produced two songs from Clarkson's multi-platinum[11] 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,[12] "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.[13]
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 Billboards Adult Contemporary chart.[14] In 1990, Magness' collaboration with songwriter Steve Kipner resulted in a Billboard top 5[15] single for Wilson Phillips' "Impulsive".
Magness has 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, Patti Austin and Al Jarreau.[16]