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Shreveport, LA born, Dallas, TX raised, and now living in New York City, Tahira Clayton is a versatile and 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.
Tahira headlined IMG Artists “Bessie, Billie, Nina: Pioneering Women in Jazz,” a 3 month national tour, music directed by Carmen Staaf. She has 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. Tahira has joined several “Jazz at Lincoln Center Presents:” tours as a featured vocalist including, “Songs We Love,” a national tour; 100 years of Disney, a national tour. In 2023, Tahira co-headlined Jazz at Lincoln Center Presents: “Sing and Swing” 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. Tahira opened for Alicia Keys at the AMFAR Gala in Antibes, France performing a Josephine Baker tribute. Additionally and currently, Tahira is a background vocalist for Zayn Malik of One Direction, taking part in his historic 2024-2025 UK/US/Mexico “Stairway to the Sky” tour. A frequent sidewoman, Tahira is a sought after collaborator in NYC and the global music scene at large, lending her voice to numerous recording and stage projects, most notably with AMP Trio. Tahira’s own album of original music “Wait, TIll Now,” is available on all major streaming platforms.
In addition to her extensive performance and recording work, Tahira is the vice president of the Women In Jazz Organization (WIJO). Through her work with WIJO, Tahira is 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 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.