Willie Clayton (born March 29, 1955) is an American Chicago blues and soul-blues singer and songwriter. He has recorded over 25 albums since the 1980s.[1] He has been performing since the late 1960s.[1] His chart successes span the decades from the 1980s onward.[2]
Allmusic noted that Clayton is "one of those vocalists who could sing the phone book and the result would sound perfectly phrased and memorable."[3] Along with Buddy Guy, Koko Taylor, and Little Milton, Clayton was one of the most important figures in Chicago blues in the 1970s and 1980s.[4]
Clayton was born in Indianola, Mississippi, one of 11 siblings.[1] He sang gospel in his church as a youngster.[5] Duplex Records issued his debut single, "That's the Way Daddy Did" (1969). In 1971, Clayton relocated to Chicago, Illinois, and appeared regularly in local clubs. He was introduced to Al Green's record producer, Willie Mitchell, who signed Clayton to a recording contract with Pawn, a subsidiary label of Hi Records. Mitchell produced several tracks with Clayton, including "I Must Be Losin' You," "It's Time You Made Up Your Mind," and "Baby You're Ready," but none of them reached the national charts. Clayton toured nationally on the same bill as Green, James Brown and Barry White, before creating his own label, Sky Hero, which issued "Living with You, But My Heart Is Somewhere Else."[1]
Clayton released the single "Rock You" for the Good Luck record label in 1980. The song was written and produced by the Lu-Cor Music team of Maurice Commander and Jerline Shelton-Commander, as well as, S. Harris (according to label printing). Another Chicago-based artist who made on the Billboardchart and Soul Train with the efforts of the Lu-Cor team (Morris Jefferson) later covered the song for the re-release of the album Rock You! in the late 1980s.[6][7]
Clayton then joined Compleat Records. He issued a couple of singles before "Tell Me", produced by General Crook, was a modest hit in 1984. It was followed on the USBillboardR&Bchart by "What a Way to Put It."[8] He returned to the R&B chart in 1989, credited by Polydor Records as Will Clayton, with "Never Too Late" and "Tell Me" (a different song from his earlier hit), followed by "I Wanna Be Where You Are", on which he was co-credited with Audrey Wheeler,[8] a former runner-up in the Miss Black Universe contest, who also recorded with Jeff Lorber and Omar Chandler and worked as a session singer.[9] Clayton also recorded a number of albums with Ichiban Records.[10] In 1992, a joint compilation album with Bobby McClure, Bobby McClure & Willie Clayton, was released by Hi Records.[11]
In 1993, Ace Records released the album Let's Get Together, followed by Simply Beautiful and It's About Love (1999). His 1998 album, Something to Talk About, reached number 14 on the Billboard Top Blues Albums chart. Clayton had similar chart successes for the following ten years.[1]Something to Talk About included his duet with Tyrone Davis on the song "Mine All Mine"[12][13] and his cover versions of the songs "Something to Talk About" and "Heart of the City."[14] Clayton started another record label, EndZone, in the late 1990s. He signed with Malaco Records in 2005.[10]
Clayton recorded his version of "I Can't Stand the Rain" on his 2008 album Soul & Blues.[15]My Tyme, which was released the same year, was his third album in a five-year period to peak at number 83 on the BillboardTop R&B Albums chart.[2] He returned to the singles chart in 2010, after an absence of over 20 years, with his recording of "We Both Grown", a duet with Dave Hollister[10]
His latest album, I Am Rhythm & Blues, was released in 2012.[16] In May 2013, Clayton performed at the Leflore County Civic Center in Greenwood, Mississippi.[17]
A feature with an interview on Willie Clayton in Soul Express, part 1
The Willie Clayton Story, part 2, 1993-2002
The Willie Clayton Story, part 3, 2002-2022
January 31, 2023
willie, clayton, born, march, 1955, american, chicago, blues, soul, blues, singer, songwriter, recorded, over, albums, since, 1980s, been, performing, since, late, 1960s, chart, successes, span, decades, from, 1980s, onward, born, 1955, march, 1955, indianola,. Willie Clayton born March 29 1955 is an American Chicago blues and soul blues singer and songwriter He has recorded over 25 albums since the 1980s 1 He has been performing since the late 1960s 1 His chart successes span the decades from the 1980s onward 2 Willie ClaytonBorn 1955 03 29 March 29 1955 age 67 Indianola Mississippi United StatesGenresChicago blues soul blues Chicago soul 1 Occupation s Singer songwriterInstrument s VocalsYears activeLate 1960s presentLabelsVariousWebsitewww wbr willieclayton wbr net Allmusic noted that Clayton is one of those vocalists who could sing the phone book and the result would sound perfectly phrased and memorable 3 Along with Buddy Guy Koko Taylor and Little Milton Clayton was one of the most important figures in Chicago blues in the 1970s and 1980s 4 Contents 1 Biography 2 Chart discography 2 1 Albums 2 2 Singles 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksBiography EditClayton was born in Indianola Mississippi one of 11 siblings 1 He sang gospel in his church as a youngster 5 Duplex Records issued his debut single That s the Way Daddy Did 1969 In 1971 Clayton relocated to Chicago Illinois and appeared regularly in local clubs He was introduced to Al Green s record producer Willie Mitchell who signed Clayton to a recording contract with Pawn a subsidiary label of Hi Records Mitchell produced several tracks with Clayton including I Must Be Losin You It s Time You Made Up Your Mind and Baby You re Ready but none of them reached the national charts Clayton toured nationally on the same bill as Green James Brown and Barry White before creating his own label Sky Hero which issued Living with You But My Heart Is Somewhere Else 1 Clayton released the single Rock You for the Good Luck record label in 1980 The song was written and produced by the Lu Cor Music team of Maurice Commander and Jerline Shelton Commander as well as S Harris according to label printing Another Chicago based artist who made on the Billboard chart and Soul Train with the efforts of the Lu Cor team Morris Jefferson later covered the song for the re release of the album Rock You in the late 1980s 6 7 Clayton then joined Compleat Records He issued a couple of singles before Tell Me produced by General Crook was a modest hit in 1984 It was followed on the US Billboard R amp B chart by What a Way to Put It 8 He returned to the R amp B chart in 1989 credited by Polydor Records as Will Clayton with Never Too Late and Tell Me a different song from his earlier hit followed by I Wanna Be Where You Are on which he was co credited with Audrey Wheeler 8 a former runner up in the Miss Black Universe contest who also recorded with Jeff Lorber and Omar Chandler and worked as a session singer 9 Clayton also recorded a number of albums with Ichiban Records 10 In 1992 a joint compilation album with Bobby McClure Bobby McClure amp Willie Clayton was released by Hi Records 11 In 1993 Ace Records released the album Let s Get Together followed by Simply Beautiful and It s About Love 1999 His 1998 album Something to Talk About reached number 14 on the Billboard Top Blues Albums chart Clayton had similar chart successes for the following ten years 1 Something to Talk About included his duet with Tyrone Davis on the song Mine All Mine 12 13 and his cover versions of the songs Something to Talk About and Heart of the City 14 Clayton started another record label EndZone in the late 1990s He signed with Malaco Records in 2005 10 Clayton recorded his version of I Can t Stand the Rain on his 2008 album Soul amp Blues 15 My Tyme which was released the same year was his third album in a five year period to peak at number 83 on the Billboard Top R amp B Albums chart 2 He returned to the singles chart in 2010 after an absence of over 20 years with his recording of We Both Grown a duet with Dave Hollister 10 His latest album I Am Rhythm amp Blues was released in 2012 16 In May 2013 Clayton performed at the Leflore County Civic Center in Greenwood Mississippi 17 Chart discography EditAlbums Edit Year Title US Billboard Top Blues Albums Chart 2 US Billboard Top R amp B Hip Hop Albums Chart 2 1998 Something To Talk About 14 2000 Call Me Mr C 14 2001 Little Giant of Soul 7 2002 The Last Man Standing 5 2004 Changing Tha Game 5 832005 Full Circle 7 2006 Gifted 5 832008 Soul amp Blues 11 932008 My Tyme 6 832012 I Am Rhythm amp Blues 2020 Ultimate Willie Clayton 2 Singles Edit Year Title US Billboard Hot R amp B Hip Hop Songs Chart 8 Notes1984 Tell Me 78 Compleat 120 produced by General Crook What a Way To Put It 84 Compleat 124 produced by General Crook1989 Never Too Late 52 Polydor 871417 billed as Will Clayton Tell Me 74 Polydor 889658 billed as Will Clayton I Wanna Be Where You Are 62 Polydor 876762 billed as Will Clayton with Audrey Wheeler2010 We Both Grown 84 CC Entertainment billed as Willie Clayton with Dave Hollister2020 Love Don t Hurt Me Mardi Gras Records 2 See also EditList of Chicago blues musicians List of soul blues musicians List of soul musicians List of R amp B musiciansReferences Edit a b c d e f Ron Wynn 1955 03 29 Willie Clayton Biography amp History AllMusic Retrieved 2015 10 10 a b c d e f Willie Clayton Awards AllMusic 1955 03 29 Retrieved 2013 03 28 Leggett Steve 2008 11 04 Soul and Blues Willie Clayton Songs Reviews Credits Awards AllMusic Retrieved 2013 03 28 Price Emmett George 2011 Encyclopedia of African American Music Volume 3 1st ed Santa Barbara California Greenwood Publishing Group p 197 ISBN 978 0 313 34199 1 Biography Willie Clayton 2013 01 18 Retrieved 2013 03 28 Willie Clayton Rock You Discogs com Retrieved 25 May 2018 Rock You Morris Jefferson Mmp3free com Retrieved 25 May 2018 a b c Whitburn Joel 1996 Top R amp B Hip Hop Singles 1942 1995 Record Research p 83 ISBN 978 0898201154 Whitburn 1996 p 476 a b c Willie Clayton Soulbluesmusic com 1955 03 29 Retrieved 2013 03 28 Bobby McClure amp Willie Clayton Bobby McClure Releases AllMusic Retrieved 2013 03 27 Mine All Mine Willie Clayton Tyrone Davis Listen Appearances Song Review AllMusic 1998 06 02 Retrieved 2013 03 28 Mine All Mine Jet Vol February 28 2005 A Johnson p 57 Hamilton Andrew 1998 06 02 Something to Talk About Willie Clayton Songs Reviews Credits Awards AllMusic Retrieved 2013 03 26 Leggett Steve 2008 11 04 Soul and Blues Willie Clayton Songs Reviews Credits Awards AllMusic Retrieved 2012 08 08 I Am Rhythm amp Blues Willie Clayton Releases AllMusic Retrieved 2013 03 28 Willie Clayton Tour Dates 2013 Willie Clayton Concert Dates and Tickets Songkick Retrieved 2013 03 28 External links EditOfficial website Willie Clayton discography at Discogs Discography and biography at Soulbluesmusic com A feature with an interview on Willie Clayton in Soul Express part 1 The Willie Clayton Story part 2 1993 2002 The Willie Clayton Story part 3 2002 2022 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Willie Clayton amp oldid 1084316805, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
