Clair Marlo, whose birth name is Clara Veseliza, is a highly accomplished Croatian-American record producer, composer, songwriter, educator, and performer. Her debut album, “Let It Go,” featured the immensely popular hit singles “‘Til They Take My Heart Away” and “Without Me,” both achieving multiplatinum status. These songs dominated the airwaves in the early 1990s, while her work as a recording artist and producer for Sheffield Lab Records garnered worldwide recognition and admiration, becoming sought-after audiophile pieces for collectors.
Additionally, Clair Marlo’s artistry extended beyond her solo career. She lent her enchanting voice to Paul Schwartz’s album, “Aria 2 – New Horizon,” where her contributions on tracks like “Sviraj” and “Lullaby” helped propel the album to the number 5 spot on Billboard’s Top Classical Crossover Chart in 1999.
The roots of Clair Marlo’s musical journey can be traced back to her upbringing in New York City, specifically in Astoria and Flushing, Queens. Her musical education commenced at an early age with the accordion, eventually progressing to piano and voice training by the time she was nine. Remarkably, at the age of 16, one of her songs was already published by Leeds Levy (MCA Music).
She pursued her passion for composition at the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College, further honing her talents under the guidance of accomplished mentors like opera singer Camilla Williams, Spud Murphy, and John Motley. Clair’s pursuit of musical excellence continued at Berklee College of Music, where she earned her bachelor’s Degree in Composition, with additional coursework in Audio Production and Engineering in 1980.
Clair Marlo’s vast contributions to the music industry are not limited to her artistry alone. She established Invisible Hand Productions in 1995, a prominent music production company, alongside Sotto-Voce and Building 11. Clair also owns and operates publishing companies, namely Tarzana Jane and Veselica Music.
Throughout her career, Clair Marlo has collaborated with numerous distinguished artists, composers, musicians, engineers, and producers. Some notable names in her repertoire of collaborations include Jeff Porcaro, Steve Porcaro, George Massenberg, Doug Sax, Bill Schnee, Joe Porcaro, David Paich, Leland Sklar, Grant Geissman, Craig Fuller, Abraham Laboriel Sr., Dean Parks, Luis Conte, and Steve Katz.
The legendary late pop-rock drummer, Jeff Porcaro, notably lent his talents to her song “‘Til They Take My Heart Away” and other tracks on the “Let It Go” album.
Furthermore, Clair Marlo’s production expertise has been sought after by esteemed artists such as Harry Chapin (posthumously), Pat Coil, Michael Ruff, Kilauea (Daniel Ho), and Grant Geissman. One of her standout productions, Michael Ruff’s “Speaking in Melodies” for Sheffield Lab Records, earned the status of an audiophile collector’s item, even being included in Stereophile’s list of “1994 Records to Die For.”