- Merry Clayton
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Merry Clayton Born December 25, 1948
Gert Town, New Orleans, Louisiana, United StatesOccupations Singer Years active 1962–2000 Associated acts The Raelettes, The Rolling Stones
Sisters LoveMerry Clayton (born December 25, 1948, Gert Town, New Orleans, Louisiana) is an American soul and gospel singer (both solo and back-up), and an actress. She has provided a number of back-up vocal tracks to songs recorded by major performing artists during the 1960s, most notably with her duet with Mick Jagger on The Rolling Stones song "Gimme Shelter".[1]
Contents
Biography
Clayton began her recording career in 1962 at the age of fourteen, singing "Who Can I Count On? (When I Can't Count On You)" as a duet with Bobby Darin on his album "You're The Reason I'm Living". A year later, she recorded the first version of "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)", although it was Betty Everett's version of the same year that reached the top 10 in the Billboard Hot 100.[2] Her early career included performances with artists including Ray Charles (as one of The Raelettes), Pearl Bailey, Elvis Presley, Phil Ochs, and Burt Bacharach. In 1971 she co-wrote the song "Sho' Nuff", which is about her mother.[3] She contributed vocals to Nicholas Roeg's 1968 film Performance.
Clayton also sang backup on several tracks from Neil Young's debut album Neil Young, originally released in 1968.
She is best known for her 1969 performance in a duet with Mick Jagger on the Rolling Stones song "Gimme Shelter". (Originally, the Stones had intended to have Bonnie Bramlett sing, but Bramlett was not available, possibly due to illness.)[4] Clayton also sang backing vocals on Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama".[5] Also, early in her career, Clayton sang backup vocals for Tom Jones, Joe Cocker ("Feelin' Alright") and Carole King. She also originated the role of the Acid Queen in the original 1972 London production of The Who's Tommy. More recently, Clayton has provided background vocals for Sparta's latest album Threes on the songs "Atlas" and "Translation". As an actress, she co-starred with Ally Sheedy in the 1987 film Maid to Order, and played Verna Dee Jordan in the final season of Cagney & Lacey.
In 1970, Clayton recorded her own version of "Gimme Shelter," and it became the title track of her debut solo album,[6] released that year. Her version would be the first of five singles under her name to crack the Billboard Hot 100, reaching #73. She continued to release solo albums throughout the next decade, notching several minor R&B singles. Clayton performs a live version of what has been deemed the Black National Anthem Lift Every Voice and Sing, on the soundtrack for the 1970 Robert Altman film Brewster McCloud.
Clayton sang "You're Always There When I Need You," the main title for 1980's The Nude Bomb, the first Get Smart movie, which starred Don Adams. She also sang the song "Yes" that was in the 1987 film Dirty Dancing, and featured on the soundtrack album. This tune became her biggest hit to date to crack the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #45 in 1988. She also recorded backing vocals for and sang the infamous 'Man with the Golden Gun' bridge on Tori Amos's 1994 hit, "Cornflake Girl".
Personal life
Clayton was married to jazz artist Curtis Amy until his death in 2002.[7] Clayton's brother is the Little Feat percussionist Sam Clayton.[8]
She had a miscarriage upon returning home from recording Gimme Shelter; some hypothesize this was due to the strain associated with reaching such high notes whilst singing.[9]
Discography
Studio albums
Year Album details Peak chart
positionsUS US R&B 1970 Gimme Shelter - Release date: 1970
- Label: Ode Records
— — 1971 Celebration - Release date: 1971
- Label: Ode Records
— — Merry Clayton - Release date: 1971
- Label: Ode Records
180 36 1975 Keep Your Eye on the Sparrow - Release date: 1975
- Label: Ode Records
146 50 1979 Emotion - Release date: 1979
- Label: Fontana Records
— — 1994 Miracles - Release date: 1994
- Label: A&M Records
— — "—" denotes releases that did not chart Singles (selected)
Year Single Peak chart
positionsAlbum US US R&B UK[10] 1970 "Gimme Shelter" 73 — — Gimme Shelter 1972 "After All This Time" 71 — — Merry Clayton 1973 "Oh No Not My Baby" 72 30 — Non-album song 1975 "Keep Your Eye on the Sparrow" 45 — — Keep Your Eye on the Sparrow 1988 "Yes" 45 79 70 Dirty Dancing (soundtrack) "—" denotes releases that did not chart References
- ^ True, Christopher. Merry Clayton Biography. Allmusic. AOL Music
- ^ No. 1 in May 1991, an excerpt from The Best Of 1000 UK No.1 Hits published by Omnibus Press
- ^ Heckman, Don. "Merry Clayton from 'Newahlins.'" New York Times (July 16, 1972): p. D11, D22, D24.
- ^ Paytress, Mark. The Rolling Stones: Off the Record Omnibus Press, 2003 (ISBN 07119886920): p. 181.
- ^ Dupree, Tom (1974-10-24). "Lynyrd Skynyrd in Sweet Home Atlanta". Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/alkooper/articles/story/9437632/lynyrd_skynyrd_in_sweet_home_atlanta. Retrieved 2006-09-17.
- ^ Merry Clayton- Gimme Shelter @Discogs.com
- ^ Voce, Steve. "Obituary: Curtis Amy." The Independent [London] (June 11, 2002; accessed: May 14, 2008)
- ^ Crazy Horse, Kandia. Rip It Up: The Black Experience in Rock N Roll 1st ed. Plagrave Macmillan, 2004. (ISBN 1-4039-6243-X): p. 205.
- ^ Snowden, Don (March 13, 1986). "For Clayton, The Gloom Is Gone". Los Angeles Times. http://articles.latimes.com/1986-03-13/entertainment/ca-19857_1_career-clayton.
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 110. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
External links
Categories:- American female singers
- American soul singers
- American gospel singers
- Musicians from New Orleans, Louisiana
- 1948 births
- Living people
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