Clyde Stats "cut his musical teeth" performing with a variety of blues artists such as Howlin' Wolf, Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, and Otis Rush in Chicago in the 1960's. Since settling in Vermont, he has played every style of popular music from bluegrass to jazz with groups such as Banjo Dan and the Midnite Plowboys, the Sneakers Jazz Band, James Harvey's H-Mob, and PoJazz. He has studied with internationally known jazz bassists George Mraz and Santi Debriano, and has accompanied jazz legends Mose Allison, Bobby Watson, and James Carter in their Vermont appearances. Currently, he performs regularly with Paul Asbell and the Will Patton Ensemble, and can be heard on CD's by these artists, as well as trombonist Dan Silverman's "Silverslide" CD (which also features saxophonist Joe Lovano and vocalist Judi Silvano) and on the soundtrack of the award-winning independent film "Man With a Plan."

Clyde has been teaching courses in the history of popular music at UVM since 1995. He currently teaches History of Rock and Roll, Blues and Related Traditions, Introduction to Jazz History, and Music and Culture of New Orleans, both online and in the classroom.