Otis Clay

A Chicago-based vocalist whose music was steeped in Southern gospel and deep soul, Otis Clay never had a major pop hit, but he was a periodic visitor to the R&B charts and an enduring presence in the world of blues and vintage soul, while also enjoying a long career in spiritual music.

Billy Price and Otis Clay: Two singers separated by a generation come together in a performance that moves the Southern soul tradition a little bit further up the road. Pittsburgh rhythm and blues singer Billy Price and deep Southern soul/gospel icon Otis Clay worked with masterful guitarist/producer Duke Robillard to create their first full-album collaboration, This Time For Real On This Time for Real, the singers have selected an array of soul and R&B songs from the catalogues of artists including Joe Tex, Sam & Dave, the Spinners, Los Lobos, Syl Johnson, and Bobby Womack as well as new versions of two songs originally recorded by Clay. The two friends have performed and worked together occasionally since 1982, but this is by far their most extensive collaboration to date.

Thankfully, Otis Clay is an artist who refused to change with the times. When the R&B audience embraced disco and, later, urban contemporary, the hard-edged belter wisely stuck with the type of raw, unapologetically Southern-sounding soul that put him on the map. Though he calls Chicago home, Clay's approach has always shouted "Memphis!" in no uncertain terms. A 41-year-old Clay was clearly very much in his prime when this magnificent live date was recorded in 1983. Sparing no passion on such treasures as "Holding on to a Dying Love" and Al Green's "Here I Am (Come and Take Me)," Clay illustrates why his small yet devoted following holds him in such high regard. One of the most pleasant surprises is the ballad "Love Don't Love Nobody." While the Spinners' excellent hit version boasted a sleek Philly soul production, Clay takes the gem straight to Memphis.

Walk a Mile in My Shoes is Otis Clay's first set of gospel studio material since the Blind Pig release The Gospel Truth in 1993. Clay freely mixes the unbridled showmanship and bittersweet soul balladry of the secular with his religious conviction, and his intensely honest vocal delivery appeals to both audiences regardless of lyrical content. With horn-laden arrangements reminiscent of his recordings for Hi Records in the '70s, these tracks include "A Soul Stirrers Medley," featuring Soul Stirrers Leroy and Arthur Crume. There is a duet with Carla Thomas ("If I Could Reach Out and Help") performed live at the Chicago Gospel Festival along with new interpretations of O.V. Wright's "On Jesus Program," Stevie Wonder's "Love's in Need of Love Today," and Joe South's modern standard "Walk a Mile in My Shoes."

A Chicago-based vocalist whose music was steeped in Southern gospel and deep soul, Otis Clay never had a major pop hit, but he was a periodic visitor to the R&B charts and an enduring presence in the world of blues and vintage soul, while also enjoying a long career in spiritual music. Clay was born on February 11, 1942 in Waxhaw, Mississippi, where the church was a vital part of his family's life. In 1953, Clay's family moved to Muncie, Indiana, where he began performing with a local gospel group. In 1957, Clay and his family relocated to Chicago, where he joined the Golden Jubilaires, the first of many gospel groups he would work with in the Windy City.

Otis Clay is a true soul survivor, a master of the hard-edged, gospel-tinged "deep" sound that can still be heard on any given evening in clubs throughout the South. His '60s and '70s sides on Hi, Dakar, and One-derful are classics; the recent Soul Man: Live in Japan revealed he can still wreck the house with the best of 'em. I'll Treat You Right is his first studio effort in a while, and every note rings with passion and intensity. One can't help but be moved when listening to his tortured reading of Little Milton's "Leave Me and My Woman Alone" or the wistful, longingly-rendered "Hope You Love Me like You Say You Do." Fans of Robert Cray will note similarities – Cray is a longtime disciple. Since, if anything, Clay's chops have improved over time, this release should gain him many more ardent followers. It's proof that great soul music, like those hot roadhouse nights in Tennessee, will endure.

This is the deep blues featuring arguably Chicago's greatest blues pianist playing with one of the best bands Muddy Waters ever fronted. Besides Otis and Muddy(who only plays on a few tracks) the band features Sammy Lawhorn on one lead guitar, Luther Georgia Boy Snake Johnson on the other lead, Mac Arnold on the electric bass, Francis Clay on the drums and George Smith on the harmonica. If you know anything about the history of the Chicago blues in the sixties, all of these names should be familiar. These guys are great individual players and a great tight band. This is the quintessential Chicago sound. These guys know when to fill, when to lay out and when to just plain let it all out. They can solo for two measures or take their time. This is an almost perfect blues band. At the center of the sound is Otis with his great soulful voice and his wonderful playing.

Tony Coleman has had an illustrious career touring the world with B.B. King, Otis Clay, Bobby Blue Bland, Johnnie Taylor, Albert King, Albert Collins, Etta James, James Cotton, Katie Webster, Z.Z. Hill, O.V. Wright and Buddy Guy.
His early aspirations led to his meeting soul singer Otis Clay. He quickly joined Clay’s band and toured with him for a couple years, recording a live album in Tokyo, Japan. Out of touring and recording with Otis Clay came opportunities to work with other major R&B and blues artists. After a jam session in a Chicago club called The High Chaparral, B.B. King jammed with Otis Clay’s rhythm section. B.B. King liked the rhythm section so much that he asked them to join him as his touring band. So Tony Coleman, Russell Jackson and Leonard Gill became B.B. King’s rhythm section…