[1] The Clinton band's repertoire was split between pop tunes of the day ("I Double Dare You", "Summer Souvenirs", "Deep Purple"), ambitious instrumentals penned by Clinton like "Satan Takes a Holiday" (recorded by Tommy Dorsey), "The Big Dipper", "Midnight in the Madhouse", and the most popular, "A Study in Brown", which begat four sequels in different "colors", and swing adaptations of classical compositions.

Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra were the first to record and release his classic composition "The Dipsy Doodle" in 1937 featuring Edythe Wright on vocals.

His composition "Calypso Melody" was a chart hit for bandleader and composer David Rose in 1957 on MGM Records, becoming a million seller and earning a gold disc.

On the strength of Clinton's record hit "The Dipsy Doodle", Vitaphone and Paramount Pictures, signed the band to star in three 10-minute theatrical films.

This was one of his last jobs as a bandleader; he quit the music business upon the outbreak of World War II, and joined the United States Army Air Forces.

[1] A rated pilot, he rose to the rank of captain, was stationed with the Air Transport Command in Calcutta and China during Hump airlift, and was a flight instructor with the 1343rd Base Unit.