Upon returning to the States in the mid-1980s, Clouse began his music career in Los Angeles, working with the likes of the late Jeff Buckley, David Morgan (The Association, Three Dog Night), Marco Mendoza (Ted Nugent, Thin Lizzy, The Dead Daisies), Nicky Hopkins (The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, The Who), Shawn Lee (musician) (Monkeyboy), Jamie Carter (Jon Butcher (band)), Carl Young (Michael Franti & Spearhead (band)), Blues Traveler, and seminal LA band The Coma-Tones, to name a few.
In the early 1990s, Clouse started working in film and television as a music supervisor and songwriter.
In the mid-1990s, Clouse relocated to NYC and opened a recording studio on W.26th St., where he continued his work with the late Jeff Buckley, and numerous young artists, as well as continuing his work in film.
In addition to continuing to produce artists, Clouse has written numerous songs for film and television.
Michael Clouse presently resides in Nashville, TN, with his wife, Terri.