Cleveland Eaton was a jazz bassist, composer, producer, and educator. His unshakeable timing balanced swing with soul and was buoyed by a rich, warm, deeply woody tone. He issued only a handful of leader dates: 1973's Plenty Good Eaton for Black Jazz is his best-known work. Between 1964 and 1974 he was a member of the Ramsey Lewis Trio. His tenure coincided with their most commercially successful period. He also worked in the Cadet/Chess session stable, and was a core member of Richard Evans' Soulful Strings. Later, he spent 17 years with the Count Basie Orchestra, earning the nickname "The Count's Bassist" along the way. After recording 1980's Strollin' with the Count, Eaton taught music, performed, recorded, and toured with his own groups until his death in 2020.