Clinton is a Music Instructor and department accompanist at Columbia College, and a professional electric bassist. He began studying music at Columbia College in California in 1982 with Dr. Rod Harris. He finished his studies at San Jose State University in California, receiving his Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1987, and earning his Master of Arts Degree in 1990.

Clinton lived in Paris, France in 1999 and performed in jazz and rock groups. He has been primarily a bassist for the last 30+ years, but is also a jazz pianist, arranger, and vocalist. He has taught music at Berkeley City, De Anza, and Contra Costa Colleges, and was the Cal Jazz Choir Director at UC Berkeley.