Stanley Clarke is an influential American bassist and composer, known for co-founding the pioneering jazz fusion group Return to Forever. Renowned for bringing the bass guitar to the forefront of jazz, Clarke became the first jazz-fusion bassist to headline tours, sell out venues around the world, and achieve gold-record sales. With five Grammy Awards and 15 nominations, he has been celebrated both as a solo artist and as part of various ensembles. Clarke was honored as a 2022 NEA Jazz Master, and one of his electric basses is displayed at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC.