Always Barely Getting By

Oliver Anthony isn't the only artist singing about the plight of middle America. In his new release Clayton Smalley pays homage to hardworking individuals with "Always Barely Getting By," a song inspired by the iconic 'Working Man Blues' by Merle Haggard, capturing the struggles of Middle America. With the added poignancy of Clayton's son Austin’s life-saving heart transplant in June, this new release is a powerful and relatable ode to the working class and the strength that keeps them going.

A welding inspector by trade, Clayton, a blue collar family man, is a throwback to when artists balanced the responsibilities of working, helping provide for a family, and pursuing a passion for music. Born and raised in Southern California, Clayton grew up listening to artists like George Strait, Keith Whitley and Reba McEntire, which galvanized his love of traditional country music and helped define his own style. Outside of music you can find Clayton fishing the lakes of Utah for Rainbow and Cutthroat trout or hunting deer, elk and grouse in the Nebo mountains.