Otis Clay

11 February 1942, Waxhaw, Mississippi, USA. Clay was introduced to music as a member of his family's gospel quintet, the Morning Glories. From there he joined the Voices Of Hope and the Christian Travellers. Upon moving to Chicago's West Side in 1957 he sang with several groups including the Golden Jubilaires, the Blue Jays and the Pilgrim Harmonizers. However, it was with the Gospel Songbirds that he first recorded in 1964 with Jesus I Love To Call His Name. Soon after its release, Otis accepted an offer to join the renowned Sensational Nightingales, with whom he toured until mid-1965. Clay then decided to cross into the R&B field and signed with the One-derful label. That's How It Is (When You're In Love), took the singer into the R&B chart in 1967. The follow-up, Lasting Love, was also a hit, but Clay's contract was latterly sold to Cotillion Records as One-derful faced bankruptcy. His releases there included She's About A Mover and Do Right Woman—Do Right Man (both of which were recorded at Muscle Shoals), as well as a searing version of Pouring Water On A Drowning Man. The marriage between southern soul and Chicago grit was never so inspired. Is It Over (1971) was the artist's first session with Willie Mitchell and anticipated his subsequent move to Hi Records. Clay's most productive period then followed, the highlights of which included the emotive Trying To Live My Life Without You (1972), Home Is Where The Heart Is (1971) and If I Could Reach Out (1973). Although fiercely popular in the southern states, such releases failed to kindle a national interest, and Otis was dropped from Hi's roster in 1974. When disco and funk swept America in the mid-70's, Clay's style fell out of favor with radio programmers. While most soul singers were following the disco trend, Clay vehemently remained a standard bearer of the raw, emotion-packed ideals of deep soul. In 1975 Clay started his own record company, Echo Records, giving him the freedom to record and produce his own gospel and soul records, including the first version of Z.Z. Hill's smash "Cheatin' In The Next Room." Other successful Echo releases were "Messing With My Mind," "Victim of Circumstances," and "If I Could Open Up My Heart." He recorded a version of the Tyrone Davis hit, Turn Back The Hands Of Time for the equally short-lived Elka. Clay also reformed the Gospel Songbirds for one release and made further singles for the labels Glades and Kayvette. Like several soul singers he remained highly popular in Japan and LIVE OTIS CLAY documents his 1978 tour there.

Album Discography

"Trying To Live My Life Without You" (Hi 1972)

"I Can't Take It" (Hi 1977)

"Live! Otis Clay" (Victor 1978)

"Soul Man: Live In Japan" (Bullseye Blues 1984)

"The Only Way Is Up" (Waylo 1985)

"You Are My Life" aka "Watch Me Now" (Waylo 1989)

"Live In Tokyo" (Waylo 1990)

"When The Gates Swing Open" (Echo 1990)

"That's How It Is" (Hi 1991)

"I'll Treat You Right" (Bullseye Blues 1992)

"On My Way Home" (Bullseye Blues 1993)

"The Gospel Truth" (Blind Pig 1993)

Various Artists "A Memphis Soul Night: Live In Europe" (Waylo 1994)

"The 45s" (Hi 1995)

"The Best Of The Hi Records Years" (Hi 1996)

"Hi Masters" (Hi 1998)

"This Time Around" (Bullseye Blues 1998)

The Complete Otis Clay On Hi Records" (Hi 2000)

"Testify!" (Fuel2000 2003)

"The Beginning: Got To Find A Way" (P-Vine 2003)

"Respect Yourself: Live At Lucerne" (Blind Pig 2005)

"Walk A Mile In My Shoes" (Echo 2007)