Born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Clif Wallace Began serious studies in Jazz at North Carolina Central University where he received both a Bachelor of Arts in Music and a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance.

Clif Began performing professionally while still in high school and has since performed with jazz greats such as Branford Marsalis, John Hendricks, Jimmy Owens, Robert Trowers, Yusef Saleem, Marvin Stamm, Gene Bertoncini, Joey Calderazzo, John Brown, and Stephanie and Marlon Jordan.

In College, Clif earned the drum seat in the African American Jazz Caucus’s Historically Black College and University (HBCU) All-Star Big Band for three years. With the HBCU Band, he had the opportunity to perform with Jimmy Heath, Joe Chambers, Gerald Wilson, and Jimmy Cobb.

In 2007, Clif played drums on John Brown’s “Merry Christmas, Baby”, that broke top 40 in the Billboard charts in 2008.