Gerald William Clayton is a jazz pianist best known for his work with Roy Hargrove. He is the son of bassist/bandleader John Clayton and the nephew of multi-instrumentalist wind player Jeff Clayton. Gerald Clayton studied classical piano with Linda Buck for eleven years starting at the age of six. He graduated from Los Angeles County High School for the Arts in 2002. At graduation, he was selected by the Music for Youth Foundation as one of four young musicians to receive a scholarship.