Merry Clayton

Soul - gospel - rhythm ‘n’ blues disco singer - actress

Born on 25.12.1948 in Gert Town, New Orleans, Louisiana.
Wife of the late jazz artist Curtis Amy
Sister of Little Feat’s percussionist Sam Clayton.
Debuted at 14 years old in 1962 with the duet with Bobby Darin, “Who Can I Count On? (When I Can’t Count On You)”.
She recorded first “The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s in His Kiss)” but it was Betty Everett’s version that became a hit the same year.
She was one of the original Raelets, the backing vocalists of Ray Charles.
She did back vocals on Neil Young’s debut in 1968.
She is best known for her duet with Mick Jagger on “Gimme Shelter”, an intense performance that was revisited decades later in the documentary “”, which won both an Oscar and a Grammy.
She is heard at the background of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama”.
She went on singing back vocals for Tom Jones, Joe Cocker and Carole King.
Her biggest hit is the uptempo “Yes” out of the 1987 soundtrack “Dirty Dancing”
She released five solo albums through the 70’s and one in 1994.