A Merry Clayton (very brief) Biography
By Gerardo Liedo
For full discography (solo) click here, for full discography (with others) click here, for a her biography in pictures click here
Merry was born in Gert Town, New Orleans, on December 25, 1948, since it was Christmas day she was named Merry by her parents Rev. Dr. Alvin G. Williams, Sr. and Eva B. Clayton.
She lived in New Orleans her first years with her parents and brother Sam Clayton, at the New Zion Baptist Church. She was trained in gospel singing at the church where her father was the main preacher; so her first live performances were when she was a little kid, and she loved it. Later she moved to Los Angeles when she was 8 and later she decided to pursue a career in music in the early 60s
At the age of 13 in 1962 she recorded a duet with Bobby Darin "Who Can I Count On?" later released on his album “You're the Reason I'm Living” released in February 1963 and credited on the back cover as “Mary Clayton”; click here to listen this duet!!
Also in 1962, when she was only 13, she recorded her very first single “I’veGot My Eyes On You” b/w “The Doorbell Rings”, Teldisc 501 and also R&B RSV 026, both credited as "Marry" Clayton, thanks cadlagh1 Bill Kealy for loading this one!
Then in 1963 she recorded her second single “It’s in his kiss” (aka "Shoop-Shoop song) (Rudy Clark) b/w “Magic of Romance” (Jeff Barry), both produced by the legendary Jack Nitzsche, click the image to listen it
Later that year the single “Nothing left to do but cry” b/w “Usher Boy”. In 1964 she recorded two singles “Beg Me” b/w “La La Jace Song” and “Knocks on the Door” b/w “This Is My Dream”. Check the solo discography section for covers and music samples.
Clayton's musical flow may have started in her father's church but she was already doing background vocal sessions when she was 14, arranging with her school counselors to have gym sixth period so she could plucked from school to work with the Blossoms vocal group that backed Tom Jones. She also did some background vocal work on the old Shindig TV show and got her first contact with Capitol in 1964 after a duet with Bobby Darin became a hit. But a bigger break came two years later when childhood chum Billy Preston invited her to audition for Ray Charles.
When she was 15, she joins her first group, “The Raelettes”, a group created in the late 50s to provide backing vocals for Ray Charles. At the moment Merry joined the group, other members were Gwen Berry, Alex Brown and Clydie King.
© 1966 Michael Ochs
Yes... Merry was touring at the age of 17 with Ray Charles!!!
"I was taught four-part harmony by Ray Charles and it's very intricate and hard because the harmony is so close together that if one person is off a centimeter, it throws the whole harmony off. I also had the training from my dad's church. You have to sing three- or four-part harmony in a choir and I did that from the age of 5 so that was no problem."
While touring with Ray Charles, Merry met Curtis Amy, and later in 1970 they married
Ray Charles performing with “The Raelettes” and Curtis Amy on sax
Teatro Lirico, Milan, Italy – April 30, 1967 © Ferdinando Scianna
She was married since 1970 with the legendary Curtis Amy (her No. 1) until he passed on June 5, 2002. With Curtis she has two sons Kevin and Darren Amy, and at least a granddaughter, Kyliyah.
Curtis Amy 1960 © GAB Archive
[Almost everyone calls her “Baby Sister.” She calls everyone “Two” ‘cause Curtis is “One.” She sings with wisdom, intensity and drive far beyond her 23 years. It is communication of the highest order, and now, of the biggest priority…and Lord, is she ever funky”] Text taken from the back cover of her album “Merry Clayton” (1971)
Her husband, Curtis Amy, was a legendary tenor and soprano sax player. He had his own solo albums from 1960 to 1967, he played sax in the Doors studio albums like Soft Parade and LA Woman. And all the winds for Carole King between many other contributions like Ray Charles and Art Garfunkel. RIP Curtis.
In 1966 she started her long career as background vocalist, starting with Buffalo Springfield first two albums (1966 and 1967), then in Neil Young first album (1968) and Phil Ochs that year too
In 1969 she started to be more in demand, recording Traffic’s “Feeling alright” with Joe Cocker and then the recording which launched Merry to the tops of the tops, Gimme Shelter for the Rolling Stones album “Let it Bleed”…. The rest is history, check the sessions part of this website to see why she is “The legendary background Vocalist”.
Other highlight: at the age of 20 she recorded with the Rolling Stones, and to this date it's the youngest session musician with this legendary band. This was a huge success, so Lou Adler produced her first album "Gimme Shelter"
Apparently, the physical exertion of singing the part was so intense that she suffered a miscarriage after returning home from the session!
Check the versions of the story, first Merry talks about it on The Queen Latifah Show, with special thanks to Queen Latifah
Now Mick Jagger’s version of the story
PENDING, Can’t find it LOL, in the meantime this article
In 1970 she releases her fifth single “Country Road” b/w “Forget it I got it” and then her first album “Gimme Shelter”
In 1970 toured solo and with, at least, The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
Tour poster 1970, great bill
In 1971 her second album “Merry Clayton” and three singles
In 1975 one album (Keep your eye on the sparrow) and two singles, in 1979 one album (Emotion) and two singles (one released early in 1980) See the solo discography for full details
In 1978 she toured with Little Feat
Well, to make the long story short, in the 70s she appears in at least 64 albums as a guest, then 22 in the 80s, 19 in the 90s and 31 since then (March 2021), but wait... is not the amount, check who they are!! See the guest appearances session for full details and music samples for all of them!!
From 1984 to 2000, Merry was also an actress!
Here in the cast of "Maid to Order" in 1987
On June 5, 2002, her husband Curtis Amy passed away, she never married again, as Curtis was her “No. 1” and she’s a one-man woman.
In 2013 Merry is on the cast of the Oscar-winning documentary ”20 Feet from Stardom”, a documentary film about background singers. Do yourself a favor and watch it!!! Here the trailer for the movie
On Monday, June 16, 2014 at 15:30, Merry was involved in a serious car accident in Los Angeles, California, unfortunately later both of Clayton's legs were amputated from the knee down.
On April 9, 2021 Merry is going to release her newest album “Beautiful Scars”, two singles out now, available to listen on line, “Deliverance” and The Hem Of His Garmet”
This is underconstruction, check later for more.
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