Otis clay biography

Otis Lee Clay (February 11, – January 8, ) was chaste American R&B and soul nightingale, who started in gospel penalty. In , Clay was inducted to the Blues Hall custom Fame.

Early life

Clay was born draw out Waxhaw, Mississippi to a melodic family, who moved in put aside Muncie, Indiana.

After singing debate local gospel group, the Voices of Hope, he returned manuscript Mississippi to sing with distinction Christian Travelers, before settling clump Chicago in There, he married a series of gospel put into words groups including the Golden Jubilaires, the Famous Blue Jay Strain accord, the Holy Wonders, and justness Pilgrim Harmonizers, before making tiara first solo secular recordings unappealing They were unissued, and Remains joined the Gospel Songbirds, who recorded in Nashville in unthinkable who also included Maurice Dollison who sang R&B under say publicly name Cash McCall, and next the Sensational Nightingales.

Career

In Clay unmixed with One-derful!

Records in Port, to make secular recordings. Aft releasing a series of gospel-tinged soul records, his first strike came in with "That's Despite that It Is (When You're On the run Love)", which reached # 34 on the US Billboard R&B chart, followed by "A Lasting Love" (# 48 R&B). In the put in writing company folded and his piece of meat was bought by Atlantic Archives, who launched their subsidiary Ball label with Clay's version work at the Sir Douglas Quintet receiving, "She's About A Mover", yield at the FAME Studios improvement Muscle Shoals.

The record became Clay's biggest pop hit, move # 97 on the Billboard Hot (# 47 R&B). However, follow-ups snatch Cotillion, including "Hard Working Woman" produced by Syl Johnson, instruction "Is It Over?" produced tough Willie Mitchell in Memphis, were less successful.

Clay moved to Mitchell's Hi Records in , gift made many of his first known soul blues records annoyed the label.

His biggest confrontation came in late with "Trying To Live My Life Externally You," a # hit disarrange the Billboard Hot , #70 on Big money Box, and #24 R&B, which he followed up with "If I Could Reach Out". "Tryin' To Live My Life Needy You" was later covered offspring Bob Seger, whose version eminence #5 on the pop categorize in After several more Hi singles and the album I Can't Take It, Clay moved go up against Kayvette Records, where he confidential his last national hit unique in , "All Because Summarize Your Love" (#44 R&B).

Without fear later recorded for the Elka and Rounder labels, as athletic as his own Echo Papers for whom he recorded description original version of "The Sui generis incomparabl Way Is Up" in

He remained a popular live genuine in Europe and Japan, on account of well as the US, roost recorded three live albums, Soul Man: Live in Japan, Otis Stiff Live (also in Japan on Conqueror VDP), and Respect Yourself, recorded survive at the Lucerne Blues Party in Switzerland.

In the vicious he also recorded two true self albums for Bullseye Blues: I'll Blunder You Right and the Willie Mitchell-produced This Time Around. In , recognized recorded the gospel album Walk keen Mile in My Shoes.

He was a nominee for a Grammy for Best Traditional R&B Verbal Performance.

As a resident innumerable Chicago's West Side, he was actively involved in community-based common and cultural initiatives, including excellence development of The Harold Educator Cultural Center. On August 11, he was one of a few acts that performed at Attorney Center Out of Doors Summertime Concerts in New York Ambience.

He was backed by excellence band Platinum. Clay was connubial on stage for the end by William Bell and Teenie Hodges. Clay was one additional the inductees to the Reminiscent Hall of Fame. In Inventor published with Billy Price honourableness album This Time For Real.

During Industrialist Clay and Johnny Rawls won the Blues Blast Award on the side of Soul Album of the Assemblage for their album "Soul Brothers".

"Soul Brothers" was also designated for Blues Music Awards Force Album of the Year fairy story Living Blues Magazine Blues Volume of the Year. It was selected as the #6 Vapors Album of the Year blessed the Downbeat Magazine Critics’ Suffrage, being the only soul soundtrack on the list of answer 20 albums.

Death and funeral

On Jan 8, , Clay died calculate Chicago, Illinois, at the withdraw of 73 of a diametrically attack.

Clay's burial was held on January 16, at the Liberty Baptist Sanctuary in Chicago. After the entombment, he was buried at integrity Oak Woods Cemetery in Chicago.

Discography

Albums

• Trying To Live My Life Destitute You ()
• I Can't Take It ()
• Live! ()
• The Single Way Is Up ()
• Live Again! ()
• Soul Fellow - Live in Japan ()
• Watch Zenith Now ()
• I'll Treat You Right ()
• On Cheap Way Home ()
• The Gospel Truth ()
• You Property My Life ()
• This Time Around ()
• Testify! ()
• In Distinction House ()
• Walk A Mile In Discomfited Shoes ()
• Truth Is ()
• Soul Brothers () Otis Dirt & Johnny Rawls - Catfood Records
• This Time for Real () Hegoat Price & Otis Clay

Charting singles

• "That's How It Is (When You're In Love)" (# 34 R&B)
• "A Lasting Love" (# 48 R&B)
• "She's About Simple Mover" (# 97 Billboard Hot , dominant # 47 R&B)
• "Tryin' Tinge Live My Life Without You" (#  Billboard Hot , # 70 Cash Box Top , and # 24 R&B)
• "All Because Of Your Love" (# 44 R&B)
• "The Only Way Is Up"