Shreveport, LA born, Dallas, TX raised, and now living in New York City, Tahira Clayton is a world renowned vocalist known for her honest vocal delivery and mesmerizing stage presence. A powerful lyricist and storyteller, Tahira has performed nationally and internationally as a band leader, featured vocalist, and background vocalist. In 2022, Tahira headlined IMG Artists “Bessie, Billie, Nina: Pioneering Women in Jazz,” a 3 month national tour, alongside the great Charene Wade, Vanisha Gould and music directed by Carmen Staaf. In October 2022, Tahira fronted the Caili O’Doherty Quintet throughout the countries of Georgia and Canada on an American Music Abroad tour as a cultural diplomatic ambassador for the United States. In January 2023, Tahira joined Jazz at Lincoln Center Presents: “Songs We Love,” a national tour, music directed by Riley Mulherkar. In 2023, Tahira headlined Jazz at Lincoln Center Presents: “Sing and Swing” alongside trumpeter and vocalist Benny Benack III for a residency in Saudi Arabia. Also in 2023, she was featured on Danny Jonokuchi’s album “VOICES,” celebrating the current generation of jazz vocalists in NYC. In May 2024, Tahira became an ambassador of the National Jazz Museum of Harlem and leader of one of their three house bands. In 2021, Tahira performed a Josephine Baker tribute, opening for Alicia Keys, at the AMFAR Gala in Antibes, France.
Additionally and currently, Tahira is a background vocalist for Zayn Malik of One Direction, and took part in his historic 2024-2025 UK/US/Mexico “Stairway to the Sky” world tour.
A frequent side-woman, Tahira is a sought after collaborator, lending her voice to numerous recording projects, most notably with AMP Trio. Tahira’s own album of original music “Wait, TIll Now,” is available on all major streaming platforms. As of August 2025, Tahira is one of 4 featured vocalists in a vocal quartet composed of Martina Da Silva, Joshua Turner, and Sonny Step, with two singles “Nature Boy” and “Candy.”
In addition to her extensive performance and recording work, Tahira is the vice president of the Women In Jazz Organization (WIJO) and is also the program director for its mentorship program, WIJO Mentors. In 2024, Tahira’s research project “The Dangers of Jazz: Sexism in America” was published in the Routledge Companion book anthology “Women in Music” alongside collaborators Amanda Ekery and Hannah Grantham.
Tahira studied Vocal Jazz Studies at the University of North Texas, graduating in 2015.
Tahira is also a well established creative teaching artist, clinician, and vocal coach. Currently, she holds Teaching Artist positions at Trinity Church, the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, and the Third Street Music Settlement where she directs the Jefferson Market Street Community Chorus. For more information on Tahira, please visit www.tahiraclayton.com