Willie Clayton
Willie Clayton | |
---|---|
Born | soul-blues, Chicago soul[1] | March 29, 1955
Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter |
Instrument(s) | Vocals |
Years active | Late 1960s – present |
Labels | Various |
Website | www |
Willie Clayton (born March 29, 1955) is an American
Biography
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 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&B chart 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,
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 Billboard Top 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]
Chart discography
Albums
Year | Title | US Billboard Top Blues Albums Chart[2] | US Billboard Top R&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 | 83 |
2005 | Full Circle | 7 | - |
2006 | Gifted | 5 | 83 |
2008 | Soul & Blues | 11 | 93 |
2008 | My Tyme | 6 | 83 |
2012 | I Am Rhythm & Blues | - | - |
2020 | Ultimate Willie Clayton | - | - |
Singles
Year | Title | US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart[8] | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1984 | "Tell Me" | 78 | Compleat 120, produced by General Crook |
"What a Way To Put It" | 84 | Compleat 124, produced by General Crook | |
1989 | "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 Wheeler | |
2010 | "We Both Grown" | 84 | CC Entertainment, billed as Willie Clayton, with Dave Hollister |
2020 | "Love Don't Hurt Me" | - | Mardi Gras Records |
See also
- List of Chicago blues musicians
- List of soul-blues musicians
- List of soul musicians
- List of R&B musicians
References
- ^ a b c d e f Ron Wynn (1955-03-29). "Willie Clayton | Biography & 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.
- 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.
- ^ ISBN 978-0898201154.
- ^ Whitburn, 1996, p.476
- ^ a b c "Willie Clayton". Soulbluesmusic.com. 1955-03-29. Retrieved 2013-03-28.
- ^ "Bobby McClure & 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 & 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.