“The Gilded Age” alum Claybourne Elder is releasing an album:  “If the Stars Were Mine” out April 3

Let me just say this upfront: Claybourne Elder is much more than a pretty face! Now, the face us very pretty indeed but he is so talented as a singer an actor. Caught his show at Catalina Jazz Club (we were in front row) and found him to be a wonderful storyteller between songs. It’s a pity his character was killed off The Gilded Age in such shocking and spectacular fashion last year!

Here’s what Clay is telling fans about his upcoming release: It’s called If the Stars Were Mine and it comes out April 3. If you have 2 minutes to pre-save it or order yourself a copy it would mean the world to me. Go to my link in bio to do it.

It started as a song I sing to my son at bedtime—something I’ve done almost every night of his life. I had gotten so used to singing in front of people that sitting in the quiet dark with him and singing reminded me of how lovely and intimate a song can be.

The songs feel like journal entries to me. I’ve always lived somewhere between a song and a punchline, and this album holds those contradictions without apology: faith and queerness, humor and longing, Broadway and Whitney Houston. It’s not a playlist—it’s a little map of my heart.

I couldn’t have done it without these amazing friends: Rodney Bush, Bryan Perri and M.P. Kuo. Thank you to @centerstagercds for putting it out and to Andrew House for producing it.

This album is a mix of big feelings, beautiful arrangements and incredible playing from a wonderful group of musicians: Adam Birnbaum, Mairi Dorman-Phaneuf, Yuka Tadano, Michael Blanco, Jeremy Yaddaw, Jared Schonig, Markus Howell, Tim Basom, Bryan Hernandez-Luch, Caleb Burhans, and Steven Lyon.

Anyway. It’s yours soon, if you want 🙂