After years of performing and writing music, Sunnie Paxson decided to pursue a solo career. She worked extensively with Stanley Clarke in the late ’80s and gained much of the knowledge she would use to start her own career. She worked in Los Angeles as a session musician for much of the 1990s. This was where she kept busy and gained important industry contacts. After years of contributing to other artists’ work, she finally recorded Groove Suite, her first solo album. She began to establish herself as a solo artist. Paxson was born in Philadelphia and began playing the piano at age eight. She was encouraged by her grandmother to learn piano and continued to study the instrument for many years. Ray Santisi taught her at Berklee College of Music, and she also studied with Bernard Peiffer, a world-renowned French jazz pianist. Paxson eventually made the move to Atlantic City where she worked for a while before Stanley Clarke offered her a place in his band. She toured with Clarke from 1985 to 1988 and even worked with him on film scores. After her stint with Clarke Paxson moved to Los Angeles where she began work as a session musician. Her career grew quickly. Harvey Mason, Michael Paulo and Everette Harp were just a few of the many artists she worked alongside. Her performances and compositions were frequently featured in television and motion pictures. Her career was further advanced in 2002 when Paxson released Groove Suite, her first solo album. She wrote nine songs on the album, as well as a funky version of the classic disco song “Do It (‘Til you’re satisfied”)”. She is joined by Larry Carlton, Stanley Clarke, and Jimmy Earl, guitarist/singer and bassist, respectively, and Dave Boruff, saxophonist. Allmusic
