[3] He attended Boca Ciega High School and toured the area as a member of several bands.
[3] He moved to Nashville, Tennessee at age 22, where he found work as an assistant to Pete Drake, a session musician.
[2] Clanton released his debut single, a cover version of Hawkshaw Hawkins's "Lonesome 7-7203" (written by Justin Tubb) in late 1983.
[4] In 1984, Clanton was nominated for Top New Male Vocalist at the Academy of Country Music Awards.
Clanton performed at the Grand Ole Opry three times in 1984, and was booked to open for Lynn Anderson and Hank Williams, Jr.