Cleveland Eaton

Cleveland Eaton
Background information
Birth nameCleveland Josephus Eaton II
Born(1939-08-31)August 31, 1939
Fairfield, Alabama, U.S.
DiedJuly 5, 2020(2020-07-05) (aged 80)
Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
GenresJazz, swing, funk, R&B, pop
Occupation(s)Musician, composer, arranger, bandleader, record producer
InstrumentDouble bass
Years active1960–2020
Formerly ofCount Basie Orchestra
Websitewww.clevelandeatonmusic.com

Cleveland Josephus Eaton II (August 31, 1939 – July 5, 2020) was an American jazz double bassist, producer, arranger, composer, publisher, and head of his own record company in Fairfield, Alabama, a suburb of Birmingham. His most famous accomplishments were playing with the Ramsey Lewis Trio and the Count Basie Orchestra. His 1975 recording Plenty Good Eaton is considered a classic in the funk music genre. He was inducted into both the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame and the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.

During the early 1960s Eaton taught music at Chicago Public Schools. He was the music teacher at George Washington Carver Upper Grade (7th - 8th grade).