1 00:00:15,436 --> 00:00:27,236 Speaker 1: Pushkin. Mary Clayton is a legendary backup singer and one 2 00:00:27,276 --> 00:00:30,676 Speaker 1: of the few who managed to consistently steal the spotlight 3 00:00:32,676 --> 00:00:38,476 Speaker 1: Sven Man, You bet Up, keep you all Hair, don't 4 00:00:38,516 --> 00:00:44,276 Speaker 1: forget what are You good? Book Ship. Mary grew up 5 00:00:44,276 --> 00:00:47,196 Speaker 1: singing in her father's Baptist church in New Orleans before 6 00:00:47,236 --> 00:00:50,476 Speaker 1: becoming a part of Ray Charles backing group, the Raylettes 7 00:00:50,716 --> 00:00:55,356 Speaker 1: in nineteen sixty six. From there, her powerhouse vocals appeared 8 00:00:55,396 --> 00:00:59,116 Speaker 1: on a number of classic songs from artists like Leonard Skynard, 9 00:00:59,356 --> 00:01:04,156 Speaker 1: Neil Young, and Carol King. Mary's journey from a renowned 10 00:01:04,156 --> 00:01:07,436 Speaker 1: backup singer to a solo artist was documented in the 11 00:01:07,476 --> 00:01:11,356 Speaker 1: Oscar winning documentary Twenty Feet from Stardom. In twenty thirteen, 12 00:01:12,036 --> 00:01:15,236 Speaker 1: almost exactly one year after the film was released, Mary 13 00:01:15,316 --> 00:01:18,356 Speaker 1: was involved in a near fatal car accident in Los Angeles. 14 00:01:19,156 --> 00:01:22,276 Speaker 1: That accident resulted in her losing both of her legs. 15 00:01:23,276 --> 00:01:26,756 Speaker 1: After years of intensive physical therapy, Mary was back in 16 00:01:26,836 --> 00:01:30,276 Speaker 1: the studio working with her longtime producer Lou Adler on 17 00:01:30,356 --> 00:01:34,556 Speaker 1: brand new material. Her new album, Beautiful Scars is a 18 00:01:34,556 --> 00:01:39,156 Speaker 1: testament to her enduring faith, featuring songs by famed songwriter 19 00:01:39,236 --> 00:01:44,356 Speaker 1: Diane Warren and also cold plays Chris Martin. On today's episode, 20 00:01:44,596 --> 00:01:47,836 Speaker 1: Mary Clayton talks to Bruce Headlam about the lasting impression 21 00:01:47,956 --> 00:01:51,876 Speaker 1: hearing Mahalia Jackson and Arita Franklin singing Church left on 22 00:01:51,956 --> 00:01:54,756 Speaker 1: her as a little girl. She also recalls how the 23 00:01:54,836 --> 00:01:57,156 Speaker 1: Rolling Stones convinced her to get out of bed in 24 00:01:57,196 --> 00:01:59,476 Speaker 1: the middle of the night and sing on their nineteen 25 00:01:59,516 --> 00:02:03,316 Speaker 1: sixty nine classic Gimme Shelter, and how Chris Martin was 26 00:02:03,356 --> 00:02:05,796 Speaker 1: the first person to get married back in the studio 27 00:02:06,116 --> 00:02:13,276 Speaker 1: after her tragic car accident. This is broken record. Liner 28 00:02:13,316 --> 00:02:21,356 Speaker 1: notes for the digital age. I'm justin Richmond. Here's Bruce 29 00:02:21,356 --> 00:02:25,356 Speaker 1: Hadlam and Mary Cleaner. So this new album, it's it's 30 00:02:25,356 --> 00:02:28,556 Speaker 1: got some great old songs. It's got a lot of gospel. 31 00:02:29,036 --> 00:02:32,396 Speaker 1: When did the idea for the album come to you? Well, 32 00:02:32,756 --> 00:02:36,236 Speaker 1: it actually, in the beginning didn't come to me. It 33 00:02:36,236 --> 00:02:38,276 Speaker 1: came to my uncle Lou. I was when I was 34 00:02:38,276 --> 00:02:41,836 Speaker 1: in the hospital after my accident. I would speak to 35 00:02:41,916 --> 00:02:44,636 Speaker 1: lu like every day, you know, maybe two or three 36 00:02:44,676 --> 00:02:47,916 Speaker 1: times a day. And because I was in the hospital 37 00:02:47,956 --> 00:02:50,956 Speaker 1: for almost five months, I would speak to Lou and 38 00:02:50,996 --> 00:02:53,636 Speaker 1: he kept saying to me, said Mary, when you get 39 00:02:53,676 --> 00:02:57,116 Speaker 1: out of there, you need to be singing. I said, yeah, sure, 40 00:02:57,316 --> 00:03:00,196 Speaker 1: suresh sure. You know, he would keep he would keep 41 00:03:00,236 --> 00:03:03,676 Speaker 1: revisiting the same thing, and of course I said, well, yeah, 42 00:03:03,996 --> 00:03:05,756 Speaker 1: well I'll think about all of this. So when I 43 00:03:05,796 --> 00:03:09,116 Speaker 1: finally got out of the hospital, he said to me, well, 44 00:03:09,116 --> 00:03:10,876 Speaker 1: what do you think you think you want to you 45 00:03:10,916 --> 00:03:13,596 Speaker 1: want to record again? I said, well, I really don't know. 46 00:03:14,116 --> 00:03:16,476 Speaker 1: I've got to get through what I'm going through before 47 00:03:16,516 --> 00:03:19,556 Speaker 1: I even think about recording again. He said, but you 48 00:03:19,636 --> 00:03:22,716 Speaker 1: gotta be okay, don't don't you know, don't worry. The 49 00:03:22,756 --> 00:03:24,716 Speaker 1: main thing he said, I want you to do is 50 00:03:25,116 --> 00:03:28,436 Speaker 1: get well, and want you get well, we're revisited again. 51 00:03:29,116 --> 00:03:33,196 Speaker 1: So about eight months into my recovery, I got a 52 00:03:33,276 --> 00:03:36,836 Speaker 1: call from from my then manager and he says, you know, 53 00:03:37,116 --> 00:03:40,316 Speaker 1: I got a great call from well from Chris Martin. 54 00:03:40,676 --> 00:03:42,956 Speaker 1: Let's say Chris Martin. What do they call it? Boy? 55 00:03:43,196 --> 00:03:45,476 Speaker 1: He said, well, they wanted to call to see how 56 00:03:45,516 --> 00:03:48,956 Speaker 1: you were doing, and how's Mary and how she fielding, 57 00:03:49,036 --> 00:03:51,676 Speaker 1: how's the recovery going and whatever. He said, well, well, 58 00:03:51,676 --> 00:03:54,516 Speaker 1: we're gonna be in Talented about two weeks and we 59 00:03:54,556 --> 00:03:57,036 Speaker 1: would love it if married we can get married to 60 00:03:57,036 --> 00:03:59,796 Speaker 1: come by the studio. So I spoke to my manager 61 00:03:59,796 --> 00:04:01,036 Speaker 1: and I said, you know what, that would be a 62 00:04:01,036 --> 00:04:03,476 Speaker 1: great time for me to get out and just kind 63 00:04:03,476 --> 00:04:05,396 Speaker 1: of hang in the studio and hang with the guys, 64 00:04:05,476 --> 00:04:08,396 Speaker 1: you know. So I went to the studio and we 65 00:04:08,556 --> 00:04:12,156 Speaker 1: just kind of out and talked and listen to them. 66 00:04:12,156 --> 00:04:15,396 Speaker 1: This is when they were recording Kalidoscope. But now in 67 00:04:15,476 --> 00:04:18,356 Speaker 1: the meantime, Lewis called me said, I hear that you're 68 00:04:18,436 --> 00:04:21,356 Speaker 1: visiting Chris Martin. I said, yeah, I'm here with the 69 00:04:21,436 --> 00:04:24,916 Speaker 1: guys at the Old A and M studios. So of course, 70 00:04:24,956 --> 00:04:29,036 Speaker 1: after the Kaleidoscope sessions, he kept saying to me, Mary, 71 00:04:29,836 --> 00:04:33,556 Speaker 1: you need to be recording. So we called my great 72 00:04:33,636 --> 00:04:37,396 Speaker 1: producer f and Terry Young, and Terry said, you know what, 73 00:04:37,556 --> 00:04:41,316 Speaker 1: I've got three great songs. I'm coming over. I said, okay, 74 00:04:41,516 --> 00:04:43,556 Speaker 1: And he came over with Old What a Friend? That 75 00:04:43,636 --> 00:04:46,276 Speaker 1: was the first song, and then he came back with 76 00:04:46,436 --> 00:04:49,956 Speaker 1: God's Love. Then he came back again with another song, 77 00:04:50,596 --> 00:04:53,596 Speaker 1: and we just went over the songs and Lou heard 78 00:04:53,596 --> 00:04:55,916 Speaker 1: it and we loved it. So he says, you know what, 79 00:04:56,036 --> 00:04:57,956 Speaker 1: I'm gonna make a call and we're gonna get going 80 00:04:57,996 --> 00:05:00,836 Speaker 1: to studio. Where would you like to do this? I said, well, 81 00:05:00,956 --> 00:05:03,196 Speaker 1: I'd love to do it at I'd like to go 82 00:05:03,276 --> 00:05:05,716 Speaker 1: home and do it, which is a in recording studio 83 00:05:05,756 --> 00:05:08,996 Speaker 1: to me, which is the Hanson studio, And we would 84 00:05:09,316 --> 00:05:13,356 Speaker 1: Henson and it was on That's amazing. Now had you 85 00:05:13,436 --> 00:05:16,636 Speaker 1: known cold Play before you sang on that album? I 86 00:05:16,716 --> 00:05:18,836 Speaker 1: knew Chris, I didn't know the rest of the guys. 87 00:05:19,316 --> 00:05:21,996 Speaker 1: So what was it like, first time after your accident 88 00:05:22,036 --> 00:05:25,116 Speaker 1: to be in there singing? What did it feel like? Well, 89 00:05:25,156 --> 00:05:28,116 Speaker 1: it felt like any other recording session really, or any 90 00:05:28,156 --> 00:05:30,396 Speaker 1: of it, you know, just hanging out with some friends 91 00:05:30,436 --> 00:05:33,756 Speaker 1: and they wanted my presence and my spirit to be there. 92 00:05:34,276 --> 00:05:36,676 Speaker 1: So as I as we were kind of hanging out, 93 00:05:36,796 --> 00:05:39,556 Speaker 1: Chris says, you know what, let's go out to the piano. 94 00:05:40,316 --> 00:05:42,756 Speaker 1: So here he comes, you know, he's wheeling me out 95 00:05:42,756 --> 00:05:46,396 Speaker 1: to the piano. And we got to the piano. He said, Mary, 96 00:05:46,556 --> 00:05:49,916 Speaker 1: can you sing this little part? So what little part? 97 00:05:49,916 --> 00:05:52,236 Speaker 1: I wasn't supposed to sing? He's, oh, you can sing 98 00:05:52,356 --> 00:05:54,876 Speaker 1: this little part. So he says, go on the booth. 99 00:05:54,956 --> 00:05:56,676 Speaker 1: Let's let's go on the booth and put that on. 100 00:05:57,276 --> 00:05:59,836 Speaker 1: But that's how that started. Then I put one part 101 00:05:59,876 --> 00:06:02,276 Speaker 1: on a background part of then I put another background 102 00:06:02,356 --> 00:06:05,836 Speaker 1: part on. Then they called me two other times to 103 00:06:06,516 --> 00:06:08,876 Speaker 1: do the same thing again, and we just kind of 104 00:06:09,236 --> 00:06:12,116 Speaker 1: kick didn't had a great time and did a little recording. 105 00:06:12,156 --> 00:06:14,156 Speaker 1: But I didn't have a problem going in the studio. 106 00:06:14,236 --> 00:06:17,756 Speaker 1: That was like drinking water. What songs had you done 107 00:06:17,756 --> 00:06:21,116 Speaker 1: in that studio? Well? I did the Mary Clayton album there, 108 00:06:21,596 --> 00:06:23,796 Speaker 1: and that very studio, which I didn't even know where 109 00:06:23,796 --> 00:06:26,476 Speaker 1: I was going. I had no idea that the studio 110 00:06:26,596 --> 00:06:29,356 Speaker 1: that the session with Coldplay was even going to be 111 00:06:29,596 --> 00:06:32,196 Speaker 1: at Hinson A and m I just you know, they 112 00:06:32,196 --> 00:06:34,276 Speaker 1: were driving and they wouldn't tell me anything. So when 113 00:06:34,316 --> 00:06:36,796 Speaker 1: I got there and they took me into the studio, 114 00:06:36,836 --> 00:06:40,476 Speaker 1: I said, oh my god, this is my studio. You 115 00:06:40,516 --> 00:06:42,156 Speaker 1: know this is where I did this Mary? What did 116 00:06:42,156 --> 00:06:44,276 Speaker 1: you do here? I said? Did the Mary Clayton help here? 117 00:06:44,676 --> 00:06:48,156 Speaker 1: And we also did Tapestry here. The Mary Clayton album 118 00:06:48,276 --> 00:06:51,716 Speaker 1: was your second album, right, Was Gimme Shelter your first? Yes? 119 00:06:52,236 --> 00:06:55,876 Speaker 1: So that had that incredible version of Southern Man on it. Yes, 120 00:06:56,436 --> 00:06:59,956 Speaker 1: do you remember recording that? Of course? I remember every 121 00:06:59,996 --> 00:07:02,636 Speaker 1: session I ever did. I want to hear about that 122 00:07:02,676 --> 00:07:04,916 Speaker 1: one because it's such a great song. The way you 123 00:07:04,956 --> 00:07:08,756 Speaker 1: do it it was fabulous. Well, thank you. Lou. Had 124 00:07:09,156 --> 00:07:13,356 Speaker 1: just at that song to my husband, who also worked 125 00:07:13,356 --> 00:07:16,436 Speaker 1: for Lou at on the A and M lot, and 126 00:07:16,556 --> 00:07:18,316 Speaker 1: we got home on it even and he said, you 127 00:07:18,316 --> 00:07:21,196 Speaker 1: know what, we need to listen to this song. Lou asked, 128 00:07:21,236 --> 00:07:23,876 Speaker 1: you know, to check it out to see if you'd 129 00:07:23,916 --> 00:07:26,596 Speaker 1: like it and if you want to record it. So 130 00:07:26,636 --> 00:07:29,316 Speaker 1: I listened to it, and I listened to it again. 131 00:07:29,356 --> 00:07:31,316 Speaker 1: I listen to it a couple of times. I said, 132 00:07:31,356 --> 00:07:33,356 Speaker 1: you know what, if we just bump this up a 133 00:07:33,396 --> 00:07:35,676 Speaker 1: little bit, I think this would be a great song. 134 00:07:35,756 --> 00:07:39,876 Speaker 1: The message was incredible at that time. So then I 135 00:07:39,916 --> 00:07:42,956 Speaker 1: had my great friend Billy Preston played on that. I 136 00:07:43,076 --> 00:07:46,756 Speaker 1: had I think Joe Sample, I had a couple of 137 00:07:46,756 --> 00:07:49,916 Speaker 1: the Crusaders, I had David T. Walker, I had all 138 00:07:49,956 --> 00:07:52,356 Speaker 1: the great musicians on it. So we got through it 139 00:07:52,476 --> 00:07:54,596 Speaker 1: and did the way we wanted to do it. Then 140 00:07:54,636 --> 00:07:58,076 Speaker 1: we loved it. Had you known Billy Preston from Ray 141 00:07:58,156 --> 00:08:00,956 Speaker 1: Charles then when you sang with him, Well, this is 142 00:08:00,996 --> 00:08:04,596 Speaker 1: another story. Billy and I were childhood friends. We knew 143 00:08:04,596 --> 00:08:07,356 Speaker 1: each other from nine years old. Are you kidding? No, 144 00:08:07,916 --> 00:08:10,996 Speaker 1: Billy went to a church called Victory Baptist Church, he 145 00:08:11,076 --> 00:08:13,396 Speaker 1: and his mom and family, and I went to a 146 00:08:13,556 --> 00:08:15,956 Speaker 1: church on the other side of the town called Mariah 147 00:08:16,036 --> 00:08:21,796 Speaker 1: Baptist Church. So these two black churches would always visit 148 00:08:21,876 --> 00:08:24,956 Speaker 1: each other. They would like hold revivals where a minister 149 00:08:24,996 --> 00:08:28,076 Speaker 1: would come in and preach for a whole week, you know, 150 00:08:28,196 --> 00:08:30,116 Speaker 1: and hold these great new Bibles, and they have these 151 00:08:30,116 --> 00:08:33,396 Speaker 1: great choirs to sing. And I went to Billy's church 152 00:08:33,476 --> 00:08:36,076 Speaker 1: and saw this little guy nine years old playing this 153 00:08:36,156 --> 00:08:40,596 Speaker 1: Hammond organ, and I said, well, who is that? And 154 00:08:40,716 --> 00:08:44,596 Speaker 1: my mom said, that's Billy. That's Robbie, Robbie's Robbie's son, Billy, 155 00:08:44,676 --> 00:08:48,156 Speaker 1: little little Billy. So they got us together and we 156 00:08:48,236 --> 00:08:51,556 Speaker 1: became great friends as kids. And whatever Billy would do, 157 00:08:51,756 --> 00:08:54,396 Speaker 1: I would do. Wherever Billy would play, I would play, 158 00:08:54,476 --> 00:08:56,356 Speaker 1: so we kind of mimicked each other. And where every 159 00:08:56,396 --> 00:08:58,356 Speaker 1: record company he would go to, I would go to. 160 00:08:58,516 --> 00:09:01,236 Speaker 1: Whatever he would do, he would always recommend me to 161 00:09:01,276 --> 00:09:04,636 Speaker 1: do vocals. So that's how our whole situation worked until 162 00:09:05,156 --> 00:09:08,116 Speaker 1: you know, he left this earth. Did you sing with 163 00:09:08,196 --> 00:09:14,116 Speaker 1: him in church? Where? When? Oh God, yes, yes, absolutely. 164 00:09:14,316 --> 00:09:16,836 Speaker 1: When we were kids, we always sung. Billy would play 165 00:09:17,036 --> 00:09:19,876 Speaker 1: and I would sing. And did you sing solo in 166 00:09:19,876 --> 00:09:23,956 Speaker 1: your church? Of course I was the baby. I was 167 00:09:23,996 --> 00:09:28,196 Speaker 1: the baby girl from God. I've had to be four, 168 00:09:28,356 --> 00:09:31,116 Speaker 1: maybe four or five years old. And your dad was 169 00:09:31,156 --> 00:09:35,836 Speaker 1: the pastor, Yes he was now. But New Orleans had 170 00:09:35,996 --> 00:09:40,876 Speaker 1: such great secular music as well as church music. Yes, 171 00:09:41,236 --> 00:09:43,676 Speaker 1: when you got older, did you go out and start 172 00:09:43,716 --> 00:09:46,756 Speaker 1: seeing like New Orleans greats or did your dad not 173 00:09:46,916 --> 00:09:51,596 Speaker 1: like that? What happened in my situation was at my 174 00:09:51,716 --> 00:09:55,116 Speaker 1: dad's church. It was every maybe two weeks, there would 175 00:09:55,156 --> 00:09:58,236 Speaker 1: be great singers that were in town doing gospel in 176 00:09:58,396 --> 00:10:01,796 Speaker 1: New Orleans, and they would all come to my dad's 177 00:10:01,876 --> 00:10:06,356 Speaker 1: church to sing. You know. My dad's great friend was 178 00:10:06,396 --> 00:10:11,436 Speaker 1: Mahalia Jackson, and Mahelia loved I just loved. They were 179 00:10:11,516 --> 00:10:14,596 Speaker 1: really great. They kind of came up together. And she 180 00:10:14,636 --> 00:10:16,716 Speaker 1: would always when she was in talent, you'd always come 181 00:10:16,756 --> 00:10:19,676 Speaker 1: and I some kind of way would find where she 182 00:10:19,916 --> 00:10:22,636 Speaker 1: was and go and sit us nestled myself right up 183 00:10:22,716 --> 00:10:26,116 Speaker 1: under her. She would be on one side, and Lynda 184 00:10:26,076 --> 00:10:29,116 Speaker 1: the Hopkins. She would always sit with Lynda Hopkins. Lynda 185 00:10:29,156 --> 00:10:32,236 Speaker 1: Hopkins was my dad's friend also. She was a great singer. 186 00:10:32,996 --> 00:10:36,796 Speaker 1: So when Mahelia was there. Whatever she was saying, I 187 00:10:36,796 --> 00:10:40,556 Speaker 1: would mimic her the next Sunday and different sundays. Sam 188 00:10:40,676 --> 00:10:42,996 Speaker 1: Cook may walk in, and you know, he may be 189 00:10:43,076 --> 00:10:45,276 Speaker 1: in town, and he would come and sing your dad's 190 00:10:45,356 --> 00:10:48,236 Speaker 1: church and with the Solstres. He was the solstress at 191 00:10:48,276 --> 00:10:52,356 Speaker 1: that time. So all the gospel, all the great gospel singers, 192 00:10:52,356 --> 00:10:55,276 Speaker 1: and Rita's dad, remember Franklin would come and he would, 193 00:10:55,396 --> 00:10:58,596 Speaker 1: you know, have a word or whatever, and Aretha would sing, 194 00:10:59,476 --> 00:11:02,596 Speaker 1: you know, so everybody kind of knew each other, you know. 195 00:11:02,596 --> 00:11:04,876 Speaker 1: And I was like, I was about like seven or 196 00:11:04,916 --> 00:11:08,196 Speaker 1: eight years old. Did you ever sing with Aretha or 197 00:11:08,276 --> 00:11:12,756 Speaker 1: with Mahalia? Well I didn't sing with Mahalia, but I 198 00:11:12,796 --> 00:11:16,716 Speaker 1: did sing with Aretha. If anyone knows me more than 199 00:11:16,836 --> 00:11:20,436 Speaker 1: thirty years, my family doesn't know me as Mary Clayton. 200 00:11:20,796 --> 00:11:24,036 Speaker 1: All my family and close close friends call me baby 201 00:11:24,116 --> 00:11:28,116 Speaker 1: sister to my sister named me that. Before I was born. 202 00:11:28,676 --> 00:11:30,596 Speaker 1: My mom asked her what does she want for Christmas? 203 00:11:30,596 --> 00:11:32,956 Speaker 1: And she said, I want a baby sister. So Christmas 204 00:11:33,036 --> 00:11:36,076 Speaker 1: Day I came. So all my life I've always been 205 00:11:36,116 --> 00:11:39,876 Speaker 1: known to my family, close inner circle friends as baby sister. 206 00:11:40,476 --> 00:11:44,036 Speaker 1: So Aretha would call me and say, let me speak 207 00:11:44,076 --> 00:11:46,436 Speaker 1: to Big Daddy. I said, she speak to Big Daddy. 208 00:11:46,676 --> 00:11:48,316 Speaker 1: But that's what they would call my husband, Let me 209 00:11:48,316 --> 00:11:50,956 Speaker 1: speak to Big and Curtis would get on the phone 210 00:11:50,996 --> 00:11:53,156 Speaker 1: and he'd work out whatever they wanted to work out. 211 00:11:53,196 --> 00:11:55,356 Speaker 1: And my husband would come to me and say, the 212 00:11:55,476 --> 00:11:57,356 Speaker 1: queen wants you to come to New York. I said, 213 00:11:57,356 --> 00:12:00,316 Speaker 1: the quick, come to New York. Yeah, she's doing Avery 214 00:12:00,356 --> 00:12:02,716 Speaker 1: Fisher Hall, or she's doing whatever, and she wants you 215 00:12:02,756 --> 00:12:04,636 Speaker 1: to come. She wants to see you, and she wants 216 00:12:04,636 --> 00:12:07,396 Speaker 1: you to come and sing with her. So they would 217 00:12:07,396 --> 00:12:08,876 Speaker 1: pack me up and send me to New York or 218 00:12:08,876 --> 00:12:11,436 Speaker 1: where Wheretha was. And I was singing with her group. 219 00:12:11,876 --> 00:12:14,076 Speaker 1: You know, I was saying, whoever, whatever she wanted me 220 00:12:14,116 --> 00:12:16,156 Speaker 1: to do, I was there for her and this one 221 00:12:16,196 --> 00:12:18,556 Speaker 1: all for years. I have to ask you, do you 222 00:12:18,596 --> 00:12:23,436 Speaker 1: remember Sam cooking the Soulsters singing? Absolutely? Do you remember 223 00:12:23,476 --> 00:12:26,596 Speaker 1: what they sang? I think it was Jesus gave me 224 00:12:26,636 --> 00:12:32,196 Speaker 1: water and it was not from the whale. Jesus gave 225 00:12:32,236 --> 00:12:38,276 Speaker 1: me water. Jesus gave me water. Jesus gave me water. 226 00:12:38,756 --> 00:12:43,996 Speaker 1: I want to let us play this way. Yeah, yeah, 227 00:12:44,036 --> 00:12:47,756 Speaker 1: I remember that. Wow, What I don't understand is how 228 00:12:47,796 --> 00:12:49,756 Speaker 1: you went from your singing in your dad's church. You 229 00:12:49,836 --> 00:12:54,036 Speaker 1: were in New Orleans and then you moved to LA. 230 00:12:54,156 --> 00:12:56,236 Speaker 1: I think it was pretty young you moved to LA. 231 00:12:56,636 --> 00:12:58,836 Speaker 1: I moved to LA when I was eight, almost nine 232 00:12:58,916 --> 00:13:03,036 Speaker 1: years old. Oh, I see, when did you start singing 233 00:13:03,076 --> 00:13:05,556 Speaker 1: on records? Then? When did you start doing backup and 234 00:13:06,196 --> 00:13:09,356 Speaker 1: that kind of thing? Well? I started doing back up 235 00:13:10,116 --> 00:13:13,196 Speaker 1: at fourteen. I would think. I was in junior high school, 236 00:13:13,716 --> 00:13:17,996 Speaker 1: getting ready to go to high school. And I went 237 00:13:18,156 --> 00:13:21,716 Speaker 1: to a session with someone I don't remember who, and 238 00:13:21,756 --> 00:13:23,476 Speaker 1: they heard me sing it said, you know what, you 239 00:13:23,516 --> 00:13:24,996 Speaker 1: need to join the group. Why don't you come and 240 00:13:25,076 --> 00:13:28,756 Speaker 1: just sing with us? So they picked me up. I 241 00:13:28,836 --> 00:13:31,636 Speaker 1: went to the session and I sung just so happened. 242 00:13:31,636 --> 00:13:35,716 Speaker 1: This particular session was for Bobby Darren. Was that the 243 00:13:35,756 --> 00:13:39,316 Speaker 1: song who Can I count On? No? No, no, no, 244 00:13:39,316 --> 00:13:42,316 Speaker 1: no no. It wasn't that particular song. This is where 245 00:13:42,316 --> 00:13:45,116 Speaker 1: he heard me sing and asked me, who are you? 246 00:13:45,356 --> 00:13:48,556 Speaker 1: What is your name? He said, you're singing really loud, 247 00:13:49,036 --> 00:13:52,116 Speaker 1: and I would back up and we start again, and 248 00:13:52,196 --> 00:13:54,796 Speaker 1: I would start singing loud again, you know, and I'd 249 00:13:54,836 --> 00:13:57,476 Speaker 1: back up some more, and then they he said, well, 250 00:13:57,476 --> 00:14:00,716 Speaker 1: who is who is that voice? So he finally brought 251 00:14:00,716 --> 00:14:02,996 Speaker 1: me in the booth, brought me behind the board and 252 00:14:03,076 --> 00:14:06,316 Speaker 1: said sing your part. So i'd sing my part. He says, wow, 253 00:14:06,716 --> 00:14:10,956 Speaker 1: you sure can't sing. And we had another session. He said, 254 00:14:10,996 --> 00:14:12,796 Speaker 1: you know what, I would certainly like to speak to 255 00:14:12,836 --> 00:14:15,556 Speaker 1: your parents because I like to record you. You know. 256 00:14:15,596 --> 00:14:18,876 Speaker 1: You got with my mom and they talked about what 257 00:14:18,996 --> 00:14:22,956 Speaker 1: was necessary. And what was necessary was that I take 258 00:14:22,956 --> 00:14:25,516 Speaker 1: a nap. They would pick me up from school. I'd 259 00:14:25,556 --> 00:14:28,316 Speaker 1: take a nap and they had to correct my homework 260 00:14:28,316 --> 00:14:31,276 Speaker 1: and then I could go downstairs and cat Capitol Records 261 00:14:31,316 --> 00:14:33,956 Speaker 1: and sing with Chordy Rogers in the big band. Was 262 00:14:33,956 --> 00:14:36,756 Speaker 1: that scary for you? Well, no, when you know, when 263 00:14:36,796 --> 00:14:39,276 Speaker 1: you when you come up singing in the church, I 264 00:14:39,396 --> 00:14:41,596 Speaker 1: came up with singing with some great singers. So I 265 00:14:41,636 --> 00:14:44,996 Speaker 1: wasn't intimidated at all. I never happened and intimidated to 266 00:14:44,996 --> 00:14:48,916 Speaker 1: sing with anybody at any time, anywhere and with anybody. 267 00:14:48,916 --> 00:14:52,156 Speaker 1: It really didn't bother me at all. And I remember 268 00:14:52,236 --> 00:14:56,036 Speaker 1: that session because it was sort of late in the evening, 269 00:14:56,116 --> 00:14:59,316 Speaker 1: almost like about six six thirty seven in Eden, and 270 00:14:59,396 --> 00:15:01,276 Speaker 1: I kept saying, what are they going to do my song? 271 00:15:01,356 --> 00:15:03,876 Speaker 1: What are we going to do our song? So mister Darren, 272 00:15:03,876 --> 00:15:05,636 Speaker 1: he would tell me. He says, well, so the next 273 00:15:05,636 --> 00:15:08,156 Speaker 1: song is going to be our song. So they put 274 00:15:08,156 --> 00:15:11,036 Speaker 1: me in a booth. My section was on one side 275 00:15:11,276 --> 00:15:12,836 Speaker 1: and he was in front of me on the other 276 00:15:12,876 --> 00:15:16,436 Speaker 1: side in the microphone. So I would start singing and 277 00:15:16,476 --> 00:15:18,036 Speaker 1: he told me what he wanted me to sing, and 278 00:15:18,076 --> 00:15:21,276 Speaker 1: I just sung it, and he was like, where does 279 00:15:21,316 --> 00:15:24,156 Speaker 1: that come from? It was funny to me, where do 280 00:15:24,236 --> 00:15:26,396 Speaker 1: you how We'll talk to you how to sing like that? 281 00:15:26,796 --> 00:15:28,476 Speaker 1: You know? I said, I don't know. I just sing 282 00:15:28,556 --> 00:15:31,756 Speaker 1: like that in church all the time. He says, well, 283 00:15:31,796 --> 00:15:36,036 Speaker 1: you should be singing all the time. So when when 284 00:15:36,076 --> 00:15:38,516 Speaker 1: we did the listing back, I was able to hear 285 00:15:38,636 --> 00:15:41,076 Speaker 1: myself and say to me. I said to myself, oh 286 00:15:41,156 --> 00:15:45,396 Speaker 1: my god, that really sounds good. Did you want to 287 00:15:45,396 --> 00:15:47,836 Speaker 1: be a singer at that point? Was it just something 288 00:15:47,876 --> 00:15:52,356 Speaker 1: you did? No, I didn't particularly want to be a singer. 289 00:15:53,076 --> 00:15:55,876 Speaker 1: I just wanted to sing, you know. I didn't know 290 00:15:55,956 --> 00:15:59,836 Speaker 1: that it really meant being a singer. I just loved singing. 291 00:16:00,396 --> 00:16:02,236 Speaker 1: And what was Bobby Darren like? Was he was he 292 00:16:02,276 --> 00:16:04,756 Speaker 1: a nice guy in the studio? Was he helpful? He 293 00:16:05,036 --> 00:16:09,116 Speaker 1: was wonderful. He was just a joy, what a joy, 294 00:16:09,236 --> 00:16:13,036 Speaker 1: A very kind, very loving man. I mean, he was 295 00:16:13,196 --> 00:16:15,876 Speaker 1: very It was a big session. This was a huge session. 296 00:16:16,316 --> 00:16:18,596 Speaker 1: And this was with short You are just big band, 297 00:16:19,276 --> 00:16:22,476 Speaker 1: you know. So to hear that, to hear that orchestra, 298 00:16:23,476 --> 00:16:26,716 Speaker 1: and well you heard the song, you heard the orchestration, yes, 299 00:16:27,516 --> 00:16:30,716 Speaker 1: it was it was just it was killer. I said, 300 00:16:30,796 --> 00:16:33,756 Speaker 1: Oh my god, I get the scene with all of this. 301 00:16:34,476 --> 00:16:36,596 Speaker 1: And I would always say, wow, that sounds like Ray 302 00:16:36,676 --> 00:16:39,156 Speaker 1: Charles is bad because he was like the only guy 303 00:16:39,196 --> 00:16:41,356 Speaker 1: that we would get a chance to really see maybe 304 00:16:41,396 --> 00:16:44,476 Speaker 1: once a year, was Ray Charles. Growing up, you'd only 305 00:16:44,516 --> 00:16:47,996 Speaker 1: see Ray Charles was the only guy you would see. Yeah, 306 00:16:48,036 --> 00:16:51,156 Speaker 1: why was that? Well, my father was a minister. You 307 00:16:51,196 --> 00:16:54,836 Speaker 1: couldn't be hanging out and lollygagging somewhere you had no 308 00:16:54,956 --> 00:16:57,836 Speaker 1: business being at that age, at four eighteen fifteen years old. 309 00:16:57,916 --> 00:17:00,876 Speaker 1: That was not gonna happen, not my house. Did he 310 00:17:00,956 --> 00:17:05,716 Speaker 1: make an exception for Ray Charles? Absolutely, m Do you 311 00:17:05,716 --> 00:17:08,636 Speaker 1: remember the first time you saw him, Yes, Billy and 312 00:17:08,676 --> 00:17:11,676 Speaker 1: I here here we go again, Billy and I. Billy 313 00:17:11,716 --> 00:17:15,076 Speaker 1: and I and my sister went to see him. And 314 00:17:15,156 --> 00:17:17,996 Speaker 1: my dad allowed that, and my and my music professor 315 00:17:18,076 --> 00:17:21,396 Speaker 1: Eddie Kendricks. So we go and see Ray and Billy 316 00:17:21,436 --> 00:17:25,276 Speaker 1: and I find our way at the really front of 317 00:17:25,356 --> 00:17:27,876 Speaker 1: the stage. They were standing you could stand and watch 318 00:17:27,916 --> 00:17:30,476 Speaker 1: the show. And we were standing at the front of 319 00:17:30,516 --> 00:17:32,396 Speaker 1: the stage and I was talking to Building. He was 320 00:17:32,436 --> 00:17:34,516 Speaker 1: talking to me, and he looked at me and he said, 321 00:17:34,996 --> 00:17:36,916 Speaker 1: we can do this. I said, I could sing like 322 00:17:36,996 --> 00:17:39,876 Speaker 1: those girls. He said, I can play like those guys. 323 00:17:40,556 --> 00:17:42,116 Speaker 1: And we looked at each other and said, you know, 324 00:17:42,196 --> 00:17:44,236 Speaker 1: one day we may just get a chance to sing 325 00:17:44,276 --> 00:17:47,156 Speaker 1: with Ray Charles. I said, boy, that show would be great. 326 00:17:47,956 --> 00:17:51,196 Speaker 1: And you know, about five or six years later, you know, 327 00:17:51,276 --> 00:17:53,756 Speaker 1: he heard Billy and just lost his mind when he 328 00:17:53,756 --> 00:17:59,316 Speaker 1: heard Billy loved the Billy. Ray absolutely adored Billy. So 329 00:17:59,516 --> 00:18:01,596 Speaker 1: Billy called me one day and said, hey, what are 330 00:18:01,596 --> 00:18:04,796 Speaker 1: you doing. I said, I'm folding towels. He says, you 331 00:18:04,836 --> 00:18:06,716 Speaker 1: need to get up here. Did you get up here? 332 00:18:06,716 --> 00:18:09,876 Speaker 1: And saying for Ray? I said, Ray, who Ray Charles, 333 00:18:10,196 --> 00:18:13,116 Speaker 1: but all something cute and come up here to the 334 00:18:13,196 --> 00:18:16,836 Speaker 1: RPM building. Well, of course I did what he said, 335 00:18:17,196 --> 00:18:20,516 Speaker 1: and I went to the RPM building, had my sister 336 00:18:20,556 --> 00:18:23,676 Speaker 1: to take me to the RPM building and sung for 337 00:18:23,796 --> 00:18:25,956 Speaker 1: Ray and left with a contract. He wanted to go 338 00:18:25,996 --> 00:18:28,676 Speaker 1: out on tour with him. So he spoke to my mom, 339 00:18:28,836 --> 00:18:30,596 Speaker 1: you know, my mom and dad, and they said, you know, 340 00:18:31,276 --> 00:18:34,156 Speaker 1: we have to see about that. And then we my 341 00:18:34,236 --> 00:18:36,916 Speaker 1: mother found out that Billy was going, and his mother 342 00:18:36,956 --> 00:18:39,636 Speaker 1: found out that I was, you know, thinking about going, 343 00:18:40,356 --> 00:18:43,516 Speaker 1: and the parents talked and you know, they figured out, 344 00:18:43,516 --> 00:18:45,196 Speaker 1: you know, it's be a good gray experience for them. 345 00:18:45,236 --> 00:18:47,276 Speaker 1: We have to have somebody to look out for them. 346 00:18:47,996 --> 00:18:50,876 Speaker 1: So the lookout person for us was Curtis Amy, who 347 00:18:50,956 --> 00:18:54,556 Speaker 1: was the musical director. He's a pretty good lookout guy. Yeah, 348 00:18:54,836 --> 00:18:58,556 Speaker 1: he was. You know, I met him. We fell deeply 349 00:18:59,156 --> 00:19:03,116 Speaker 1: and love with each other and married in nineteen seventy 350 00:19:03,436 --> 00:19:06,556 Speaker 1: and was married for thirty two years. So when did 351 00:19:06,556 --> 00:19:09,076 Speaker 1: you start touring with Ray Charles? Then? What year was 352 00:19:09,196 --> 00:19:13,316 Speaker 1: that in nineteen sixty six? What was he like as 353 00:19:13,316 --> 00:19:17,516 Speaker 1: a bandleader, Ray Charles? Oh boy, he was a taskmaster. 354 00:19:17,796 --> 00:19:20,156 Speaker 1: You had to be on your game. If you were 355 00:19:20,196 --> 00:19:22,036 Speaker 1: not on your game, you could not be on tour 356 00:19:22,116 --> 00:19:25,356 Speaker 1: with him. He was a wonderful man and a great teacher. 357 00:19:25,876 --> 00:19:29,956 Speaker 1: Everything I learned. I knew how to sing harmony, but 358 00:19:30,036 --> 00:19:32,116 Speaker 1: I mean I really knew how to sing harmony when 359 00:19:32,116 --> 00:19:35,476 Speaker 1: when you know, when I parted and left to Ray Charles, 360 00:19:35,756 --> 00:19:39,196 Speaker 1: he had that very close close because he had four singers, 361 00:19:39,196 --> 00:19:42,476 Speaker 1: four girls. That's hard harmony to sing if you're not 362 00:19:42,916 --> 00:19:45,716 Speaker 1: you don't have a good ear, you know. But he 363 00:19:45,836 --> 00:19:50,156 Speaker 1: taught us. We would rehearse for us every day because 364 00:19:50,196 --> 00:19:52,436 Speaker 1: he wanted a certain sound and you had to sing it, 365 00:19:52,956 --> 00:19:54,396 Speaker 1: and you know, you had to sing it the way 366 00:19:54,436 --> 00:19:57,396 Speaker 1: he taught you to sing it. So did he did 367 00:19:57,396 --> 00:20:00,476 Speaker 1: he do a lot of the arranging himself or he 368 00:20:00,596 --> 00:20:03,996 Speaker 1: did he have arrangements for you know, he had arrangements 369 00:20:04,036 --> 00:20:05,876 Speaker 1: for us. He knew what he wanted his girls to 370 00:20:05,916 --> 00:20:09,436 Speaker 1: sound like, right, he knew exactly. He already had his 371 00:20:09,476 --> 00:20:11,796 Speaker 1: big arrangements. But he know what he knew with his book, 372 00:20:11,876 --> 00:20:15,596 Speaker 1: he wanted his vocals to sound like you know. So 373 00:20:15,716 --> 00:20:19,316 Speaker 1: that's why that's why he meticulously took time. I mean, 374 00:20:19,516 --> 00:20:21,516 Speaker 1: we were rehearsed every day. We get into a city 375 00:20:21,756 --> 00:20:24,276 Speaker 1: and he'd ran out the ballroom and we'd sit in 376 00:20:24,276 --> 00:20:28,076 Speaker 1: this big ballroom with this big baby grand and we'd 377 00:20:28,076 --> 00:20:30,236 Speaker 1: sit around the piano and he'd work out parts with 378 00:20:30,356 --> 00:20:32,116 Speaker 1: us every day. It didn't matter if you knew it 379 00:20:32,116 --> 00:20:35,356 Speaker 1: and knew the part or not you were you. You 380 00:20:35,396 --> 00:20:37,796 Speaker 1: had to sing it again because he had to know 381 00:20:37,876 --> 00:20:41,876 Speaker 1: that you knew it. Wow. Yeah, can you remember what 382 00:20:41,916 --> 00:20:45,596 Speaker 1: were the hard songs to sing with him? Of his heads? 383 00:20:45,756 --> 00:20:48,636 Speaker 1: For me, it was Together Again. If you saw twenty 384 00:20:48,636 --> 00:20:51,796 Speaker 1: feet from starting I talked about that song. I mean 385 00:20:51,836 --> 00:20:54,676 Speaker 1: I could not hear the second part. I just could 386 00:20:54,716 --> 00:20:57,876 Speaker 1: not hear it. Bobby Wolmack was in the band at 387 00:20:57,876 --> 00:21:02,036 Speaker 1: that time, and Bobby everybody had everybody was trying to 388 00:21:02,036 --> 00:21:04,316 Speaker 1: help me with these notes. He said, Baby, I'm gonna 389 00:21:04,356 --> 00:21:07,316 Speaker 1: play this part. I'm gonna play a first note. And 390 00:21:07,356 --> 00:21:09,836 Speaker 1: when you hear that note on my guitar, you that's 391 00:21:09,916 --> 00:21:12,676 Speaker 1: the part you come in on. My husband, Curtis said, okay, 392 00:21:12,756 --> 00:21:15,996 Speaker 1: I'm gonna play this particular note on the saxophone. Everybody 393 00:21:16,076 --> 00:21:18,036 Speaker 1: was trying to help me. I could not hear the note. 394 00:21:19,236 --> 00:21:23,196 Speaker 1: So we were in Carnegie Hall, and do you know 395 00:21:23,236 --> 00:21:26,036 Speaker 1: when when it came time to sing that song, I 396 00:21:26,076 --> 00:21:30,276 Speaker 1: got ready to sing. The song was Together Again and 397 00:21:30,436 --> 00:21:35,796 Speaker 1: my part was twogether rocking the Great Skies An that 398 00:21:35,916 --> 00:21:38,756 Speaker 1: was the second part. I could not hear it and 399 00:21:38,876 --> 00:21:41,076 Speaker 1: I did not sing the correct note. And do you 400 00:21:41,116 --> 00:21:43,556 Speaker 1: know that he took his finger and banged out my part. 401 00:21:45,196 --> 00:21:48,556 Speaker 1: He took his finger and banged out my part where 402 00:21:48,556 --> 00:21:50,356 Speaker 1: I tell you one thing. No one had to tell 403 00:21:50,396 --> 00:21:52,756 Speaker 1: me about that part again. I could sing that part 404 00:21:52,796 --> 00:21:56,756 Speaker 1: in my sleep because I wasn't gonna be made to 405 00:21:56,796 --> 00:21:59,676 Speaker 1: look like a fool. Did you sing on recordings with 406 00:21:59,756 --> 00:22:02,796 Speaker 1: him as well? Yeah? I did Let's Go Get Stone 407 00:22:02,916 --> 00:22:17,716 Speaker 1: with him, which was his very first hit, and I 408 00:22:17,796 --> 00:22:21,436 Speaker 1: also worked on Oh God, eleanor Rigby for the movie 409 00:22:21,716 --> 00:22:24,076 Speaker 1: In the Heat of the Night, and Oh God. I 410 00:22:24,116 --> 00:22:26,916 Speaker 1: worked on several things for him. Did you decide to 411 00:22:26,956 --> 00:22:29,996 Speaker 1: leave to do more backup in your own work? Then, Well, 412 00:22:30,156 --> 00:22:32,436 Speaker 1: I wanted a career for myself. My husband and I 413 00:22:32,436 --> 00:22:35,396 Speaker 1: had discussed it. I was engaged Curtis by then, and 414 00:22:35,436 --> 00:22:37,676 Speaker 1: we had discussed it, and I discussed with my mom, 415 00:22:37,676 --> 00:22:40,436 Speaker 1: and you know, I just felt like I could, I 416 00:22:40,436 --> 00:22:43,316 Speaker 1: could be a great artist by myself. Did ra Charles 417 00:22:43,356 --> 00:22:46,156 Speaker 1: understand that, Well, No, he didn't want us to leave. 418 00:22:46,636 --> 00:22:48,516 Speaker 1: He didn't want me to leave at all, and he 419 00:22:48,636 --> 00:22:51,436 Speaker 1: sure didn't want his conductor to leave. Yeah, because like 420 00:22:51,476 --> 00:22:54,236 Speaker 1: we were, we were his fame. He loved me and Billy, 421 00:22:54,596 --> 00:22:57,236 Speaker 1: and he loved he loved Curtis. So he said he 422 00:22:57,276 --> 00:23:00,036 Speaker 1: did not do that did not make him feel too 423 00:23:00,036 --> 00:23:03,076 Speaker 1: good at all. Later, later years we talked about it. 424 00:23:03,156 --> 00:23:06,276 Speaker 1: He would always says, Sistemia, you just left me. Oh 425 00:23:06,316 --> 00:23:09,076 Speaker 1: my god, he's still horning on Systemia. You just left me, 426 00:23:09,516 --> 00:23:11,636 Speaker 1: because that's what he would call me. It was to Mary, 427 00:23:11,836 --> 00:23:15,196 Speaker 1: you just you just left me. I so well, you know, 428 00:23:15,476 --> 00:23:18,196 Speaker 1: I wanted a career. I couldn't have a career out 429 00:23:18,236 --> 00:23:20,596 Speaker 1: on the road with you. We'll be back with more 430 00:23:20,636 --> 00:23:26,436 Speaker 1: from Mary Clayton after a break. We're back with Mary 431 00:23:26,476 --> 00:23:30,036 Speaker 1: Clayton and Bruce Headlam. So when did you meet Lou 432 00:23:30,116 --> 00:23:33,476 Speaker 1: Adler and all of this? Okay, So I met Lou. 433 00:23:34,316 --> 00:23:37,836 Speaker 1: Lou was doing an album called Dylan's Gospel all Bob 434 00:23:37,916 --> 00:23:39,756 Speaker 1: Dylan songs, but he wanted to do them in a 435 00:23:39,836 --> 00:23:43,236 Speaker 1: gospel flare. So he wanted to call all the great 436 00:23:43,276 --> 00:23:46,076 Speaker 1: singers in the LA to do these particular sessions, which 437 00:23:46,116 --> 00:23:50,396 Speaker 1: consisted of the honeycomb. He wanted all the great background singers. 438 00:23:50,636 --> 00:23:53,436 Speaker 1: So you know, he put out the call and Gene 439 00:23:53,436 --> 00:23:56,956 Speaker 1: Page called me the great arranger. He says, Mary, you know, 440 00:23:56,996 --> 00:24:00,156 Speaker 1: I'm doing this record with the producer Lou Adler, and 441 00:24:00,516 --> 00:24:02,596 Speaker 1: I have a couple of songs but may be great 442 00:24:02,636 --> 00:24:04,636 Speaker 1: for you. Come to my office and let's kind of 443 00:24:04,676 --> 00:24:06,556 Speaker 1: go over them. If you feel like you liked them, 444 00:24:06,876 --> 00:24:09,236 Speaker 1: we'd like you to sing them on this record. So 445 00:24:09,276 --> 00:24:11,396 Speaker 1: I went to Jeans and I loved the songs, you know, 446 00:24:11,396 --> 00:24:13,636 Speaker 1: and they were right they were right up my alley 447 00:24:14,316 --> 00:24:16,836 Speaker 1: because they were you know, they had a gospel flare 448 00:24:16,916 --> 00:24:18,716 Speaker 1: to them and I could sing that in my sleep. 449 00:24:19,316 --> 00:24:22,196 Speaker 1: So the section was in about two weeks. Went to 450 00:24:22,236 --> 00:24:26,636 Speaker 1: the studio and everybody had a different lead on different songs. 451 00:24:27,476 --> 00:24:33,956 Speaker 1: So I met Lou at the studio and then we 452 00:24:34,156 --> 00:24:37,956 Speaker 1: did I think the first song was Quinn the Eskimo 453 00:24:38,036 --> 00:24:40,356 Speaker 1: and times are changing, well by times in the change 454 00:24:40,396 --> 00:24:43,436 Speaker 1: were changing. Lou pulled me in the hallway said, you 455 00:24:43,476 --> 00:24:45,356 Speaker 1: know what, I'd like to talk to you after all 456 00:24:45,436 --> 00:24:49,116 Speaker 1: this is over. So we met with Lou at his office, 457 00:24:49,156 --> 00:24:52,196 Speaker 1: my husband and I, and he offered me a deal. Wow, 458 00:24:52,556 --> 00:24:55,116 Speaker 1: and I was I was really ready for a deal, 459 00:24:55,156 --> 00:24:58,156 Speaker 1: and he gave me a great deal and we decided 460 00:24:58,236 --> 00:25:00,556 Speaker 1: to sign the Lou. That was in nineteen sixty nine. 461 00:25:01,236 --> 00:25:03,516 Speaker 1: Now you you had a lot of friends who were 462 00:25:04,196 --> 00:25:08,076 Speaker 1: who were background singers. Yeah, was it really competitive? Among 463 00:25:08,116 --> 00:25:10,956 Speaker 1: you to get jobs. Was it a tough business to 464 00:25:10,956 --> 00:25:13,716 Speaker 1: be in? I didn't think it was tough. It wasn't 465 00:25:13,756 --> 00:25:17,036 Speaker 1: tough for me. I just always thought that if it 466 00:25:17,116 --> 00:25:18,996 Speaker 1: was for you to have or for you to be on, 467 00:25:19,236 --> 00:25:22,036 Speaker 1: you'd be on it, you know. I mean, if it wasn't, 468 00:25:22,076 --> 00:25:26,756 Speaker 1: then you wouldn't. I mean there were so many different singers, 469 00:25:26,756 --> 00:25:29,796 Speaker 1: so we all just loved each other. We really really 470 00:25:29,836 --> 00:25:33,796 Speaker 1: cared for each other. So whatever somebody could help each other. 471 00:25:34,196 --> 00:25:35,916 Speaker 1: Somebody would call me and said, well, you know what, 472 00:25:35,956 --> 00:25:39,236 Speaker 1: they're doing a session from Motown and they need a 473 00:25:39,316 --> 00:25:42,476 Speaker 1: top or they need a second soprano. You sing everything, Mary, 474 00:25:42,516 --> 00:25:45,396 Speaker 1: so can't you just come to the studio for sure? 475 00:25:45,716 --> 00:25:48,156 Speaker 1: And I'd go and there would be other singers. It 476 00:25:48,196 --> 00:25:51,636 Speaker 1: would be Clydie King, to be Vanetta Fields, maybe Shirley Matthews. 477 00:25:51,756 --> 00:25:54,116 Speaker 1: Maybe if you treat somewhere in the holloway, but there 478 00:25:54,116 --> 00:25:58,316 Speaker 1: would be Gloria Jones. These ladies were all great singers 479 00:25:58,396 --> 00:26:01,716 Speaker 1: and writers. So I did there. I didn't. I didn't 480 00:26:01,756 --> 00:26:06,156 Speaker 1: detect any competitiveness in that. We were all just grateful 481 00:26:06,196 --> 00:26:08,996 Speaker 1: to be doing this wonderful work. And then before you 482 00:26:09,236 --> 00:26:13,356 Speaker 1: did your first album, you did the Guinea Shelter session, Yes, 483 00:26:13,436 --> 00:26:15,956 Speaker 1: which is very famous. They called you in the middle 484 00:26:15,996 --> 00:26:20,796 Speaker 1: of the night. Yes. Now do you still understand why 485 00:26:20,996 --> 00:26:22,476 Speaker 1: when you were called in the middle of the night 486 00:26:22,516 --> 00:26:26,076 Speaker 1: you were very pregnant. Yeah, you delivered just such an 487 00:26:26,116 --> 00:26:31,836 Speaker 1: incredible performance. Well, I think every time I go to 488 00:26:31,916 --> 00:26:35,836 Speaker 1: a record date or do anything, I bring everybody that 489 00:26:35,836 --> 00:26:40,156 Speaker 1: has ever been good to me, everybody that has said 490 00:26:40,236 --> 00:26:44,316 Speaker 1: anything nice to me, everybody that has prayed for me 491 00:26:44,516 --> 00:26:47,716 Speaker 1: are really been for me, meaning all of my ancestors. 492 00:26:47,756 --> 00:26:49,916 Speaker 1: I bring all my ancestors with me wherever I go 493 00:26:49,956 --> 00:26:52,596 Speaker 1: and whatever I do, especially when I'm singing or doing 494 00:26:52,596 --> 00:26:55,396 Speaker 1: my craft. And I brought all of them with me 495 00:26:55,476 --> 00:26:57,316 Speaker 1: that night because they had to help me, because that 496 00:26:57,396 --> 00:27:00,156 Speaker 1: was a long It wasn't a long night, but it 497 00:27:00,276 --> 00:27:03,876 Speaker 1: was a very strange feeling that night in the in 498 00:27:03,956 --> 00:27:06,596 Speaker 1: the air, you know, it was a beautiful feeling. It 499 00:27:06,716 --> 00:27:09,676 Speaker 1: was a little strange, you know, getting up almost eleven 500 00:27:09,716 --> 00:27:12,916 Speaker 1: o'clock at night to go into a session and Jack 501 00:27:12,996 --> 00:27:15,596 Speaker 1: Niche calling that late. Jack has never called me that 502 00:27:15,716 --> 00:27:18,756 Speaker 1: late to come to the studio. So as you know, 503 00:27:18,836 --> 00:27:21,676 Speaker 1: of course, you probably heard my husband. I'm talking to Jack, 504 00:27:21,716 --> 00:27:23,516 Speaker 1: and my husband takes the phone and say, hey, man, 505 00:27:23,636 --> 00:27:27,836 Speaker 1: what's going on as well? We'd love this group to 506 00:27:27,956 --> 00:27:31,196 Speaker 1: call the rolling And before he could get stones out, 507 00:27:31,236 --> 00:27:33,436 Speaker 1: my husband grabs the phone. He said, what's going on? 508 00:27:33,516 --> 00:27:35,556 Speaker 1: He says, well, they would love to have a lady 509 00:27:35,596 --> 00:27:39,316 Speaker 1: sing on this part, and Curtis Jack when he Jack talked, 510 00:27:39,356 --> 00:27:42,996 Speaker 1: he would always talk like Curtis. I think it would 511 00:27:42,996 --> 00:27:46,116 Speaker 1: be something great for Mary later on down the line. 512 00:27:46,476 --> 00:27:48,556 Speaker 1: I think he was always really great and always in 513 00:27:48,636 --> 00:27:52,636 Speaker 1: my corner. Jack Nichi. So he says, well, baby, I 514 00:27:52,676 --> 00:27:54,596 Speaker 1: really think that you should maybe, he said, you know 515 00:27:54,676 --> 00:27:56,556 Speaker 1: how you are, it won't take you long to do this. 516 00:27:57,476 --> 00:27:59,996 Speaker 1: So opened the front door and the car is sitting 517 00:28:00,036 --> 00:28:02,916 Speaker 1: down at the end of the stair wheel down there 518 00:28:03,196 --> 00:28:06,716 Speaker 1: waiting for me, and the drivers standing on the kind 519 00:28:06,756 --> 00:28:08,636 Speaker 1: of leading on the car. So I go to the 520 00:28:08,676 --> 00:28:11,916 Speaker 1: studio and Nick and Keith had been out in the back, 521 00:28:11,996 --> 00:28:14,676 Speaker 1: so they're coming through the back door. They were out 522 00:28:14,716 --> 00:28:16,876 Speaker 1: doing whatever that they did, and they said are you marry? 523 00:28:16,916 --> 00:28:19,276 Speaker 1: I said yes. It says, well, we want you to 524 00:28:19,356 --> 00:28:22,116 Speaker 1: do this part, and of course that's the old children 525 00:28:22,156 --> 00:28:23,956 Speaker 1: just a shot away, just a shot away. So I 526 00:28:24,076 --> 00:28:28,036 Speaker 1: did that, and then it got to the part of 527 00:28:28,636 --> 00:28:31,956 Speaker 1: rape murder. Well, first of all, old children just a 528 00:28:32,036 --> 00:28:36,236 Speaker 1: shot away was very very high. It was very very high. 529 00:28:37,076 --> 00:28:40,356 Speaker 1: So I sung it, and of course I had everything 530 00:28:40,396 --> 00:28:42,436 Speaker 1: and everybody around me that I brought with me, and 531 00:28:42,516 --> 00:28:44,796 Speaker 1: they helped me to get through it. But when they 532 00:28:44,876 --> 00:28:49,116 Speaker 1: got to rape murder, I was like, rape murder. I 533 00:28:49,276 --> 00:28:51,876 Speaker 1: turned to Keith and I said, honey, I'm here by myself. 534 00:28:52,116 --> 00:28:53,836 Speaker 1: I know you don't want me to sing nobody no 535 00:28:54,036 --> 00:28:57,796 Speaker 1: rape murder. They said yeah, they said, well tell me 536 00:28:57,916 --> 00:29:00,196 Speaker 1: what does this mean regarding the song. So when they 537 00:29:00,236 --> 00:29:03,276 Speaker 1: gave me the gist of the song, I said, okay. 538 00:29:03,756 --> 00:29:06,636 Speaker 1: So we started to sing rape murder, and boy, it 539 00:29:06,796 --> 00:29:09,556 Speaker 1: even got higher when I started singing rape murder, and 540 00:29:09,956 --> 00:29:13,516 Speaker 1: I mean, being pregnant like that. I don't know if 541 00:29:13,556 --> 00:29:16,036 Speaker 1: I really should have been singing that high, but something 542 00:29:16,156 --> 00:29:19,076 Speaker 1: just took me over, you know, just took over my 543 00:29:19,156 --> 00:29:22,036 Speaker 1: whole being almost And at that time, it was a 544 00:29:22,116 --> 00:29:26,916 Speaker 1: lot of racism going on. It was the war in Vietnam, 545 00:29:27,676 --> 00:29:31,036 Speaker 1: it was Doctor King and you know, the Black movement 546 00:29:31,156 --> 00:29:33,556 Speaker 1: going on. It was just a lot of it was 547 00:29:33,636 --> 00:29:36,316 Speaker 1: just very weird out there in the street police from 548 00:29:36,396 --> 00:29:38,996 Speaker 1: the brutality, and I think I kind of took that 549 00:29:39,116 --> 00:29:41,876 Speaker 1: spirit on that night, and I was like, I was 550 00:29:41,956 --> 00:29:45,956 Speaker 1: just crying out to the heavens to please give me shelter, 551 00:29:46,276 --> 00:29:48,196 Speaker 1: to give a shelter from all the stuff that's going 552 00:29:48,236 --> 00:29:52,076 Speaker 1: on here, because it touched me very deeply. So by 553 00:29:52,116 --> 00:29:53,876 Speaker 1: the time I got finished with that, it was like 554 00:29:53,996 --> 00:29:56,756 Speaker 1: I left myself and then I came back to myself. 555 00:29:56,916 --> 00:29:59,236 Speaker 1: And by the time I came back to myself, they said, well, 556 00:29:59,716 --> 00:30:02,156 Speaker 1: they were hooting and hollering in the booth, just hollering 557 00:30:02,156 --> 00:30:05,196 Speaker 1: and screaming in the booth, and I'm looking at them 558 00:30:05,556 --> 00:30:07,796 Speaker 1: and I said, okay, do you want me to do 559 00:30:07,916 --> 00:30:10,156 Speaker 1: one to say, oh, just one more? Can you do 560 00:30:10,316 --> 00:30:12,356 Speaker 1: one more? Can you keep the crack? Oh? Can you 561 00:30:12,516 --> 00:30:14,556 Speaker 1: keep the crack that's in your voice? And it was 562 00:30:14,596 --> 00:30:17,316 Speaker 1: so late my voice crack. That's why my voice cracked, right, 563 00:30:17,756 --> 00:30:19,876 Speaker 1: you know in that song in my voice crack And 564 00:30:19,956 --> 00:30:23,476 Speaker 1: it apparently that was that was good, And they said, 565 00:30:23,516 --> 00:30:25,556 Speaker 1: can you give us one more? Please keep the crack, 566 00:30:25,676 --> 00:30:28,116 Speaker 1: don't don't, don't get rid of the crack. I said, well, 567 00:30:28,156 --> 00:30:31,316 Speaker 1: I tried, but that's just what my voice did at 568 00:30:31,396 --> 00:30:33,876 Speaker 1: that time of night. So I did it again, and 569 00:30:33,996 --> 00:30:36,156 Speaker 1: before they could come out, I was waving goodbye and 570 00:30:36,196 --> 00:30:38,116 Speaker 1: I was on my way home, and that was about 571 00:30:38,156 --> 00:30:39,996 Speaker 1: the I did about three tapes of that and I 572 00:30:40,116 --> 00:30:53,316 Speaker 1: was done. Were you surprised when it became a big hit? Yeah, 573 00:30:57,036 --> 00:31:00,356 Speaker 1: it was a humenous hit. Yes, I was. What was 574 00:31:00,396 --> 00:31:02,276 Speaker 1: it like when you did it for your album, because 575 00:31:02,276 --> 00:31:05,716 Speaker 1: it's very different. Oh, I was having fun. I as 576 00:31:05,796 --> 00:31:08,756 Speaker 1: I said, I bought everybody with me, you know, and 577 00:31:08,836 --> 00:31:11,076 Speaker 1: I have all my great musicians in there with me, 578 00:31:11,196 --> 00:31:14,076 Speaker 1: and I had some of my family there and we 579 00:31:14,236 --> 00:31:15,996 Speaker 1: just had a great time. It was just a great 580 00:31:16,036 --> 00:31:19,756 Speaker 1: time because it was my first album, Perie, my first record, 581 00:31:20,076 --> 00:31:24,956 Speaker 1: and as Mary Clayton, and it was wonderful. I just 582 00:31:25,076 --> 00:31:27,396 Speaker 1: had really a great time with a great groove. When 583 00:31:27,396 --> 00:31:30,956 Speaker 1: we sheltered on the guitar, it was just wonderful. You 584 00:31:31,076 --> 00:31:34,636 Speaker 1: do a version of Bridge over Troubled Water, yes, which 585 00:31:34,956 --> 00:31:38,156 Speaker 1: you know people know the original and they knew Aretha 586 00:31:38,236 --> 00:31:42,516 Speaker 1: Franklin's version, but this version is it's very different. Yes, 587 00:31:42,876 --> 00:31:45,036 Speaker 1: it's really wonderful. Can you talk a bit about that. 588 00:31:45,996 --> 00:31:49,956 Speaker 1: When we did that song, you know, that was just 589 00:31:50,116 --> 00:31:53,316 Speaker 1: how I was feeling. I was feeling like a bridge 590 00:31:53,356 --> 00:31:56,316 Speaker 1: over troubled Water. You know, you have to have a 591 00:31:56,436 --> 00:32:00,276 Speaker 1: certain feeling to sing those type of songs, and was 592 00:32:00,396 --> 00:32:02,396 Speaker 1: still a lot of trim all going on in the world, 593 00:32:02,676 --> 00:32:04,996 Speaker 1: and I felt like we were definitely a bridge that 594 00:32:05,116 --> 00:32:07,716 Speaker 1: was over some troubled water, you know. And I just 595 00:32:07,876 --> 00:32:11,396 Speaker 1: bought all of the spirit stuff into the session with 596 00:32:11,596 --> 00:32:14,676 Speaker 1: me that day, and everybody just seemed to love it. 597 00:32:14,796 --> 00:32:17,796 Speaker 1: But it was just my spirit, That's what that was. 598 00:32:18,196 --> 00:32:20,756 Speaker 1: Was dwelling in my spirit that day. I think that 599 00:32:20,996 --> 00:32:23,236 Speaker 1: we had just we had just done the Moderate Pop 600 00:32:23,316 --> 00:32:27,436 Speaker 1: Festival and I had the whole Love Unlimited band with 601 00:32:27,676 --> 00:32:31,636 Speaker 1: me at that festival that day, so I tried to 602 00:32:31,716 --> 00:32:34,756 Speaker 1: recreate that when I went into the studio and it 603 00:32:34,916 --> 00:32:37,556 Speaker 1: just turned out so great. We were very happy with that. 604 00:32:38,316 --> 00:32:41,636 Speaker 1: And then you did your next album with Southern Man 605 00:32:41,836 --> 00:32:45,756 Speaker 1: and Steamroller, and yeah, you did a Carol king Son 606 00:32:45,876 --> 00:32:48,636 Speaker 1: you had sung on Tapestry, Is that right? Yeah? I 607 00:32:48,676 --> 00:32:51,756 Speaker 1: didn't do it with Carol on Tapestry called Way Over yonda. Oh. 608 00:32:52,076 --> 00:32:55,956 Speaker 1: I didn't realize that was you. Yeah, that's me. And 609 00:32:56,116 --> 00:32:59,596 Speaker 1: did you do other background on that album as well? Yeah? 610 00:32:59,596 --> 00:33:02,396 Speaker 1: I did all the wocal background on Tapestry myself and 611 00:33:02,476 --> 00:33:05,716 Speaker 1: Julia Waters did Oh incredible, what was Carol King like 612 00:33:05,836 --> 00:33:09,876 Speaker 1: to work with. Like my sister, we're very cold. We're 613 00:33:09,996 --> 00:33:13,596 Speaker 1: very very close. We've always been closed. We're still close. 614 00:33:13,956 --> 00:33:17,276 Speaker 1: She was a joy. She she loved my husband and 615 00:33:17,956 --> 00:33:20,396 Speaker 1: he did brother to brother with her and he worked 616 00:33:20,436 --> 00:33:24,396 Speaker 1: on tapestry also with her. You know. But we were 617 00:33:24,476 --> 00:33:27,276 Speaker 1: like family. You know, we're the same record labeled and 618 00:33:27,796 --> 00:33:30,556 Speaker 1: we would all we would always do everything together. You know. 619 00:33:30,676 --> 00:33:34,076 Speaker 1: We had kids, you know, and we would never we 620 00:33:34,276 --> 00:33:38,676 Speaker 1: never talk about anything but the children. We didn't talk 621 00:33:38,716 --> 00:33:41,076 Speaker 1: about music at all. You know, sometimes we talk about me, 622 00:33:41,236 --> 00:33:43,916 Speaker 1: but our main conversation was always about the kids. You know. 623 00:33:43,996 --> 00:33:45,596 Speaker 1: The kids were always on the lot there at A 624 00:33:45,676 --> 00:33:48,556 Speaker 1: and M and kind of hanging out. She said, oh, 625 00:33:49,076 --> 00:33:52,436 Speaker 1: come and get Kevin. Mary Clayton's son is an office 626 00:33:52,676 --> 00:33:56,156 Speaker 1: cause it having Carol's kids would be there. So we 627 00:33:56,236 --> 00:33:59,356 Speaker 1: were like a big family. And she was like, I 628 00:33:59,516 --> 00:34:02,516 Speaker 1: came one night. I was taking a girlfriend out to 629 00:34:02,596 --> 00:34:05,436 Speaker 1: dinner and I didn't have the credit card, so I 630 00:34:05,556 --> 00:34:08,636 Speaker 1: stopped by to get the credit card from my husband, 631 00:34:09,436 --> 00:34:12,676 Speaker 1: and Carol was waving me in, did come come here? 632 00:34:12,756 --> 00:34:15,676 Speaker 1: Come here? And said what's going on? She says, come, 633 00:34:15,716 --> 00:34:17,716 Speaker 1: I want you to sing the slu part. And it 634 00:34:17,996 --> 00:34:20,836 Speaker 1: was way over Yonder. So I sung that part and 635 00:34:20,956 --> 00:34:24,796 Speaker 1: I went on out to dinner with my girlfriend. Is 636 00:34:24,796 --> 00:34:26,756 Speaker 1: that funny? But we want to do the listening back. 637 00:34:26,796 --> 00:34:28,996 Speaker 1: She said, this is what you did. Listen to yourself? 638 00:34:29,476 --> 00:34:40,876 Speaker 1: Is the sun shutting? Shut it write down? I said, oh, Carol, 639 00:34:40,916 --> 00:34:44,156 Speaker 1: that's great. She said, Oh, lucays, oh, Mary was wonderful 640 00:34:44,676 --> 00:34:46,476 Speaker 1: and it turned out really, really great, so we were 641 00:34:46,516 --> 00:34:49,156 Speaker 1: happy about that. Why were you able to do things 642 00:34:49,276 --> 00:34:53,596 Speaker 1: so quickly? Did you read music by this point? Of 643 00:34:53,756 --> 00:34:56,556 Speaker 1: course I did, but I didn't have to. I didn't 644 00:34:56,556 --> 00:34:58,556 Speaker 1: have to read music to do Way Over Yonder. I 645 00:34:58,636 --> 00:35:00,716 Speaker 1: mean it was like it was like a church field. 646 00:35:00,756 --> 00:35:02,996 Speaker 1: Way Over Yonder was a place where I know that 647 00:35:03,156 --> 00:35:05,956 Speaker 1: I could find shelter from a hunger and cold, and 648 00:35:06,196 --> 00:35:09,036 Speaker 1: the sweet taste in good life is so easily found 649 00:35:09,116 --> 00:35:12,556 Speaker 1: own way over Yonder. That's why I'm bound. It was 650 00:35:12,716 --> 00:35:16,196 Speaker 1: very It was like going to choir rehearsal. She says, 651 00:35:16,236 --> 00:35:18,396 Speaker 1: Sing to these lyrics and sing them how you feel it. 652 00:35:18,636 --> 00:35:21,316 Speaker 1: So that's what I did. Wow, did you make your 653 00:35:21,356 --> 00:35:25,556 Speaker 1: dinner reservations? Of course I did. You made it on time, 654 00:35:25,636 --> 00:35:27,436 Speaker 1: and you you sang a hit on the way there. 655 00:35:29,276 --> 00:35:32,556 Speaker 1: I think Lou called the restaurant said they're going to 656 00:35:32,596 --> 00:35:35,956 Speaker 1: be about maybe twenty twenty five minutes later, and then 657 00:35:35,956 --> 00:35:38,156 Speaker 1: when we got there, everything was set up in Randy. 658 00:35:38,916 --> 00:35:42,436 Speaker 1: Oh nice. So you know so many people know you 659 00:35:42,676 --> 00:35:47,036 Speaker 1: from twenty feet from stardom. Yeah, and you said something 660 00:35:47,076 --> 00:35:49,196 Speaker 1: in that film I think about a lot, which, as 661 00:35:49,236 --> 00:35:51,916 Speaker 1: you said, every time I get ready to do something, 662 00:35:52,076 --> 00:35:56,156 Speaker 1: something would knock me to my knees. Yeah. And you 663 00:35:56,236 --> 00:35:59,396 Speaker 1: were talking about solo stuff and other things you would do. 664 00:36:00,116 --> 00:36:02,476 Speaker 1: You know, you had this accident. It's very traumatic. You 665 00:36:02,796 --> 00:36:07,236 Speaker 1: lost your husband years before that. Did your faith in 666 00:36:07,436 --> 00:36:09,356 Speaker 1: your ability to get up and do this did it 667 00:36:09,436 --> 00:36:14,876 Speaker 1: ever wane? No, never wavered. My faith has never wavered. 668 00:36:14,996 --> 00:36:17,836 Speaker 1: From a child, I knew what I knew. I knew 669 00:36:17,876 --> 00:36:20,396 Speaker 1: who I was. I've always known who I was. But 670 00:36:20,596 --> 00:36:24,196 Speaker 1: more than that, I've always known whose I was. I 671 00:36:24,356 --> 00:36:28,356 Speaker 1: always knew and I was always taught that I was special, 672 00:36:28,876 --> 00:36:31,716 Speaker 1: that I was a gift, and that I was descendants 673 00:36:31,756 --> 00:36:35,596 Speaker 1: of royalty. I was a queen and and and I 674 00:36:35,756 --> 00:36:37,956 Speaker 1: was and I was great. I was always taught that. 675 00:36:38,396 --> 00:36:40,596 Speaker 1: You know, we were always taught that we were wonderful 676 00:36:40,676 --> 00:36:43,556 Speaker 1: just the way we were, and we were always God's property, 677 00:36:44,156 --> 00:36:48,796 Speaker 1: So never waver. Whatever God does or whatever God allows 678 00:36:49,116 --> 00:36:51,876 Speaker 1: in my life, you take it. It's how you it's 679 00:36:51,916 --> 00:36:54,276 Speaker 1: how you deal with it, you know. It's It's like 680 00:36:54,636 --> 00:36:57,316 Speaker 1: I was speaking to a great lady in my life 681 00:36:58,476 --> 00:37:03,596 Speaker 1: one day at a huge party and I got her 682 00:37:03,676 --> 00:37:06,596 Speaker 1: ear and I was complaining about something. I think it 683 00:37:06,756 --> 00:37:08,796 Speaker 1: was a deal that was about to go down. It 684 00:37:08,876 --> 00:37:11,796 Speaker 1: was making too long and oh, I don't know if 685 00:37:11,836 --> 00:37:13,796 Speaker 1: I want to do it. And la la la la. 686 00:37:14,116 --> 00:37:16,676 Speaker 1: I said why why why does it take so long 687 00:37:17,196 --> 00:37:20,436 Speaker 1: to get stuff done? So she looked at me and 688 00:37:20,636 --> 00:37:22,956 Speaker 1: stared at me for a long time, and she says, baby, 689 00:37:23,396 --> 00:37:26,756 Speaker 1: she said, that's called l I f E. She said, 690 00:37:26,756 --> 00:37:29,676 Speaker 1: that's life, she says, but it's about what you do 691 00:37:29,996 --> 00:37:32,716 Speaker 1: in life. How are you going to handle a situation 692 00:37:32,916 --> 00:37:35,476 Speaker 1: in life? It's not the situation, it's how you handle 693 00:37:35,516 --> 00:37:38,036 Speaker 1: it that would help you get through it. And I 694 00:37:38,196 --> 00:37:42,716 Speaker 1: always remember that that was that lady was my guy, mom, Delarese. 695 00:37:43,156 --> 00:37:45,396 Speaker 1: You know when when I had my accident, she says, 696 00:37:45,476 --> 00:37:48,356 Speaker 1: Now she went back to the same thing. She says, Well, 697 00:37:48,436 --> 00:37:50,596 Speaker 1: however you deal with this, it's how you're going to 698 00:37:50,676 --> 00:37:52,716 Speaker 1: come out of it. She said, Okay, she said, I 699 00:37:52,796 --> 00:37:55,476 Speaker 1: want you to gather yourself. She said, and how are 700 00:37:55,476 --> 00:37:57,076 Speaker 1: you gonna deal with this? I said, I'm gonna deal 701 00:37:57,116 --> 00:37:59,476 Speaker 1: with it with love and with dignity. She said, you 702 00:37:59,556 --> 00:38:01,236 Speaker 1: know who you are? I said, I know exactly who 703 00:38:01,276 --> 00:38:04,876 Speaker 1: I am. Mom, And she said, well, you're gonna get 704 00:38:04,916 --> 00:38:06,876 Speaker 1: through this, and you're gonna get through it in victory. 705 00:38:07,276 --> 00:38:09,836 Speaker 1: So don't waiver on what you've known all your life. 706 00:38:10,396 --> 00:38:13,596 Speaker 1: So no, my faith has never wavered. And I've never asked. 707 00:38:13,756 --> 00:38:16,276 Speaker 1: You know how some people when they go through things, 708 00:38:16,356 --> 00:38:19,916 Speaker 1: they always oh God, why, And I don't think of myself. 709 00:38:20,076 --> 00:38:22,676 Speaker 1: You know what this happened. I talked to spoke to 710 00:38:22,796 --> 00:38:26,396 Speaker 1: my brother, and you know, I tried to cry the 711 00:38:26,436 --> 00:38:28,996 Speaker 1: blues to my brother. I said, well, I don't know. 712 00:38:29,836 --> 00:38:32,716 Speaker 1: You know why this particular thing, you know, had to happen. 713 00:38:33,156 --> 00:38:36,676 Speaker 1: He says, Well, there's a purpose in everything, you know, 714 00:38:36,876 --> 00:38:39,476 Speaker 1: he says, So again he says, you know who you are, 715 00:38:40,396 --> 00:38:43,236 Speaker 1: and again, you know who'se you are because this is 716 00:38:43,276 --> 00:38:46,236 Speaker 1: what we were taught. So you'll get through it. But 717 00:38:46,316 --> 00:38:49,036 Speaker 1: it's also it's going to be a challenge, he says, 718 00:38:49,076 --> 00:38:51,636 Speaker 1: But such as life. You know, life is a challenge. 719 00:38:51,636 --> 00:38:53,836 Speaker 1: No one kind of gets out of this without stars. 720 00:38:54,516 --> 00:38:57,316 Speaker 1: We'll be back with Mary Clayton after this quick break. 721 00:39:02,196 --> 00:39:04,516 Speaker 1: We're back with the rest of Bruce Edlam's interview with 722 00:39:04,716 --> 00:39:07,676 Speaker 1: Mary Clayton. But first, here's some of the title track 723 00:39:07,836 --> 00:39:21,516 Speaker 1: of her brand new album, Beautiful Scars. I've been on 724 00:39:21,916 --> 00:39:28,956 Speaker 1: the battle field of life. I've been through it, but 725 00:39:29,556 --> 00:39:34,276 Speaker 1: I just had to go through that to get to these. 726 00:39:36,396 --> 00:39:44,756 Speaker 1: I've been not doubt, I've been kicked down, but face 727 00:39:45,556 --> 00:39:51,076 Speaker 1: brought me back and I'm just handing here now. These 728 00:39:51,116 --> 00:39:54,916 Speaker 1: are beautiful stars and I have on my heart. This 729 00:39:55,196 --> 00:39:59,236 Speaker 1: is beautiful proof that I've made it this far, every 730 00:39:59,396 --> 00:40:03,676 Speaker 1: herd I've been through, every cut, every bruise, wearing power 731 00:40:03,756 --> 00:40:08,796 Speaker 1: like a bag, wearing like a tattoo. These are beautiful stars. 732 00:40:10,916 --> 00:40:15,596 Speaker 1: These are beautiful scars. Your album is named Beautiful Scars 733 00:40:15,636 --> 00:40:17,916 Speaker 1: for a great song. Was that song written for you 734 00:40:18,236 --> 00:40:21,796 Speaker 1: by Diane Warren? Yes? It was? Okay? Have you had 735 00:40:21,836 --> 00:40:27,036 Speaker 1: you known her before? Oh? God, yes, everybody knows Diane Warren. 736 00:40:27,116 --> 00:40:29,596 Speaker 1: But I think there was a movie score that I 737 00:40:29,676 --> 00:40:33,316 Speaker 1: did that she was involved in. I think that a 738 00:40:33,476 --> 00:40:37,036 Speaker 1: background says she also, my granddaughter worked with a little 739 00:40:37,076 --> 00:40:40,516 Speaker 1: group that she was working with from school. And they 740 00:40:40,596 --> 00:40:42,556 Speaker 1: would go to her studio, and she came to you 741 00:40:42,636 --> 00:40:45,116 Speaker 1: one day, she said, Grandma. She says, do you know 742 00:40:45,236 --> 00:40:47,196 Speaker 1: you know Diane Warren, don't you? I said yes, She 743 00:40:47,196 --> 00:40:50,436 Speaker 1: said where our studio? Does? Said what I said, did 744 00:40:50,476 --> 00:40:52,516 Speaker 1: she know you were my granddaughter? She said, Now, Grandma, 745 00:40:52,516 --> 00:40:54,996 Speaker 1: I didn't go up to her say anything. She says, 746 00:40:55,116 --> 00:40:58,116 Speaker 1: but she is really wonderful. I says, she's only one 747 00:40:58,116 --> 00:41:00,756 Speaker 1: of the greatest writers in the entire world. But when 748 00:41:00,836 --> 00:41:03,756 Speaker 1: we were doing the album, we were sitting in the 749 00:41:03,836 --> 00:41:07,796 Speaker 1: studio behind the board and Lou and Terry I were 750 00:41:07,836 --> 00:41:09,556 Speaker 1: just talking, you know we did. We were doing a 751 00:41:09,596 --> 00:41:12,476 Speaker 1: listen back and we were just talking. So Lou looked 752 00:41:12,476 --> 00:41:14,516 Speaker 1: at me. He said, you know what he said to think, 753 00:41:14,556 --> 00:41:17,836 Speaker 1: I'll give a call to Diane. And I looked at 754 00:41:17,916 --> 00:41:21,116 Speaker 1: him and I said, Diane, who Diane warred? He says, yes, 755 00:41:21,236 --> 00:41:24,436 Speaker 1: let's call Diane. And when he called Diane, he told 756 00:41:24,476 --> 00:41:26,716 Speaker 1: her what he was what he was about to do. 757 00:41:27,076 --> 00:41:29,676 Speaker 1: She says, what in a studio of Mary Clayton. She's 758 00:41:29,716 --> 00:41:32,836 Speaker 1: doing an album and he says yes. She says, well, 759 00:41:32,876 --> 00:41:35,716 Speaker 1: I'll have something to you in two weeks. And this 760 00:41:36,036 --> 00:41:39,356 Speaker 1: woman wrote this beautiful scars, And when Terry came in 761 00:41:39,596 --> 00:41:41,956 Speaker 1: with it, we all just had to leave out of 762 00:41:41,996 --> 00:41:44,716 Speaker 1: the studio because everybody was just in tears when I 763 00:41:44,796 --> 00:41:48,316 Speaker 1: heard this song, because it was so much what I 764 00:41:48,476 --> 00:41:51,836 Speaker 1: had been through. I have definitely been on the battlefield 765 00:41:51,876 --> 00:41:55,436 Speaker 1: of life and I have been through it. But I 766 00:41:55,516 --> 00:41:57,196 Speaker 1: had to go through that to get to you where 767 00:41:57,196 --> 00:42:00,676 Speaker 1: I am today, you know, And those words they were 768 00:42:00,796 --> 00:42:03,556 Speaker 1: so what I have been through in my life as 769 00:42:03,596 --> 00:42:07,636 Speaker 1: an artist. But these are still beautiful scars. What was 770 00:42:07,676 --> 00:42:10,756 Speaker 1: it like for you to sing it the first time? Oh? Man, 771 00:42:11,116 --> 00:42:13,436 Speaker 1: it was. It was a tear jerker. You know. I 772 00:42:13,516 --> 00:42:16,396 Speaker 1: had to really get myself together. I had to really 773 00:42:16,516 --> 00:42:18,116 Speaker 1: get because every time I started to sing you, I 774 00:42:18,236 --> 00:42:21,236 Speaker 1: started to cry. I would cheer up, and you could 775 00:42:21,236 --> 00:42:23,356 Speaker 1: hear it in my throat. I'm sure you'd probably hear 776 00:42:23,396 --> 00:42:25,476 Speaker 1: it in a certain part of the song. And when 777 00:42:25,516 --> 00:42:28,236 Speaker 1: I say everybody's got scars, you know, and that's true. 778 00:42:28,476 --> 00:42:31,316 Speaker 1: Everybody have some type of scar or another. But during 779 00:42:31,356 --> 00:42:33,596 Speaker 1: the time I was recording it, the first time I 780 00:42:33,676 --> 00:42:35,916 Speaker 1: recorded it, Luc says, you know what he said, I 781 00:42:35,996 --> 00:42:38,876 Speaker 1: think you need to go home and really, really, really 782 00:42:38,956 --> 00:42:41,476 Speaker 1: really horn in on the song and we'll come back 783 00:42:41,516 --> 00:42:43,916 Speaker 1: into two days. Okay, Mary, I said, okay, Uncle Loo, 784 00:42:43,996 --> 00:42:46,396 Speaker 1: that's cool. So I came home and played it over 785 00:42:46,476 --> 00:42:48,036 Speaker 1: and over and over and over and over and over 786 00:42:48,116 --> 00:42:50,436 Speaker 1: and over and over until I got it in my spirit. 787 00:42:50,956 --> 00:42:53,156 Speaker 1: Once I got it in my spirit, I was ready 788 00:42:53,196 --> 00:42:55,236 Speaker 1: to go. So we got to the studio and the 789 00:42:55,356 --> 00:42:58,676 Speaker 1: first take they loved it, and then here I go again, 790 00:42:59,036 --> 00:43:01,556 Speaker 1: and then we did another one for safety, and then 791 00:43:01,596 --> 00:43:03,996 Speaker 1: we did one more and that was it for beautiful Scars, 792 00:43:04,196 --> 00:43:07,956 Speaker 1: because they wanted to capture the performance of it. Yeah, 793 00:43:08,516 --> 00:43:10,796 Speaker 1: and that's what we did. I want to ask you 794 00:43:10,916 --> 00:43:13,636 Speaker 1: just about one more song. It's full of great gospel 795 00:43:13,676 --> 00:43:17,076 Speaker 1: songs by your producer, but you redo a song I 796 00:43:17,196 --> 00:43:19,396 Speaker 1: think you did on your first album, which is Leon 797 00:43:19,476 --> 00:43:25,276 Speaker 1: Russell's a song for you. Oh yes, oh Bruce, my my, my, my, 798 00:43:25,476 --> 00:43:29,396 Speaker 1: my my, you know that song. You know, like couples 799 00:43:29,436 --> 00:43:32,356 Speaker 1: have songs that they really like and they go back 800 00:43:32,716 --> 00:43:35,156 Speaker 1: and remember things that they were doing at that time 801 00:43:35,236 --> 00:43:38,076 Speaker 1: in their lives, and when that song come on, you 802 00:43:38,196 --> 00:43:40,316 Speaker 1: can just look at each other and say, oh boy, 803 00:43:40,356 --> 00:43:44,316 Speaker 1: I remember that song. Well, that song applied to my 804 00:43:44,476 --> 00:43:48,116 Speaker 1: husband and I and that was kirk My and Curtiss 805 00:43:48,196 --> 00:43:52,356 Speaker 1: song because he would always say, I always feel married 806 00:43:52,396 --> 00:43:54,156 Speaker 1: that you're singing that song for me. I said, well, 807 00:43:54,196 --> 00:43:57,236 Speaker 1: I am singing that song for you. And when I 808 00:43:57,356 --> 00:44:00,116 Speaker 1: recorded that song, we just fell in love with it, 809 00:44:00,196 --> 00:44:03,836 Speaker 1: and of course we love Leon. And when I recorded 810 00:44:03,876 --> 00:44:07,516 Speaker 1: it for this album, see, I didn't know that Lou 811 00:44:07,916 --> 00:44:10,116 Speaker 1: and Terry were going to pull O curtis Is solo 812 00:44:10,756 --> 00:44:13,796 Speaker 1: from the Mary Clayton album and put it on this 813 00:44:13,996 --> 00:44:18,116 Speaker 1: particular record. So one day we're kind of hanging out 814 00:44:18,236 --> 00:44:21,396 Speaker 1: and he calls me and say, Mary, I'm gonna send 815 00:44:21,516 --> 00:44:24,116 Speaker 1: a song for you, but I want Kevin to be 816 00:44:24,196 --> 00:44:26,836 Speaker 1: sitting with you when you listen to it. So Kevin 817 00:44:26,956 --> 00:44:28,676 Speaker 1: is my sons. I called Kevin. I said, you know, 818 00:44:29,156 --> 00:44:31,316 Speaker 1: uncle Lou wants you to be here. When I listened 819 00:44:31,356 --> 00:44:33,076 Speaker 1: to song for you. We had no idea what was 820 00:44:33,116 --> 00:44:35,956 Speaker 1: going on. So we have these great speakers in the house. 821 00:44:36,036 --> 00:44:39,596 Speaker 1: So he's sitting and we're listening. So Karvin took his 822 00:44:39,716 --> 00:44:42,196 Speaker 1: finger and he was pointing to the music and I said, 823 00:44:42,236 --> 00:44:45,476 Speaker 1: why is he pointing? He said, Mom, that's dad, that's dad. 824 00:44:46,316 --> 00:44:50,236 Speaker 1: I said, oh my god, Lou, pull that's solo from 825 00:44:50,276 --> 00:44:52,796 Speaker 1: that album, and we both just you know, it just 826 00:44:52,916 --> 00:44:55,596 Speaker 1: brought us to tears. It brought us to tears. It 827 00:44:55,836 --> 00:44:58,436 Speaker 1: was just it was just so wonderful. That's why this 828 00:44:58,516 --> 00:45:01,956 Speaker 1: song is so special to me. Well, it's an amazing version. 829 00:45:02,356 --> 00:45:05,916 Speaker 1: Thank you. It's a terrific album. What's next for you? 830 00:45:05,996 --> 00:45:09,356 Speaker 1: Are you? Are you waiting to see about when you 831 00:45:09,436 --> 00:45:13,436 Speaker 1: can perform again in public? Absolutely? I think we're getting 832 00:45:13,436 --> 00:45:16,316 Speaker 1: ready to do a video, a couple of videos, and 833 00:45:16,916 --> 00:45:18,756 Speaker 1: it's a lot of things brewing, a lot of things 834 00:45:18,876 --> 00:45:21,716 Speaker 1: coming up there. They tell me we're looking forward to 835 00:45:21,836 --> 00:45:24,556 Speaker 1: doing great things with this record. I want people to 836 00:45:24,676 --> 00:45:27,356 Speaker 1: really be blessed by hearing this and be able to 837 00:45:27,476 --> 00:45:30,996 Speaker 1: really touch somebody or help somebody in some kind of 838 00:45:31,116 --> 00:45:34,596 Speaker 1: way with this music. You know, it's very important to 839 00:45:34,716 --> 00:45:38,556 Speaker 1: me that, you know, I was I was telling Louisa, LOUI, 840 00:45:38,956 --> 00:45:42,276 Speaker 1: you know, if I don't get a dime, it doesn't matter. 841 00:45:42,956 --> 00:45:45,636 Speaker 1: I just want people to be touched because this record 842 00:45:45,716 --> 00:45:48,916 Speaker 1: has healed my soul and my spirit. It's really made 843 00:45:48,996 --> 00:45:51,556 Speaker 1: me feel like me again. So I just wanted to 844 00:45:51,636 --> 00:45:54,716 Speaker 1: bless people and people to be to be really touched 845 00:45:54,796 --> 00:45:58,116 Speaker 1: and delivered from whatever they're going through and to be 846 00:45:58,236 --> 00:46:01,836 Speaker 1: lifted up in this record. You've already touched one. You're 847 00:46:01,836 --> 00:46:04,836 Speaker 1: going to touch a lot more. It's just wonderful. Thank you, 848 00:46:05,156 --> 00:46:08,036 Speaker 1: and I couldn't be more thrilled You're singing again and 849 00:46:08,476 --> 00:46:10,676 Speaker 1: doing it so so thank you, Thank you so much. 850 00:46:10,756 --> 00:46:16,196 Speaker 1: God bless you guys. Thanks to Mary Clayton for sharing 851 00:46:16,356 --> 00:46:19,796 Speaker 1: so many wonderful stories with Bruce. Do You're. A playlist 852 00:46:19,836 --> 00:46:22,636 Speaker 1: of our favorite Mary Clayton songs and classic tracks that 853 00:46:22,796 --> 00:46:26,316 Speaker 1: feature her on background vocals. Head to Broken Record podcast 854 00:46:26,436 --> 00:46:29,316 Speaker 1: dot com. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel 855 00:46:29,396 --> 00:46:32,876 Speaker 1: at YouTube dot com slash Broken Record Podcast, where you 856 00:46:32,876 --> 00:46:36,516 Speaker 1: can find extended cuts of new and old episodes. You 857 00:46:36,556 --> 00:46:39,796 Speaker 1: can follow us on Twitter at broken Record. Broken Record 858 00:46:39,916 --> 00:46:43,796 Speaker 1: is produced with helpful Leo Rose, Jason Gambrell, Martin Gonzalez, 859 00:46:44,236 --> 00:46:48,476 Speaker 1: Eric Sandler, and Jennifer Sanchez, with engineering help from Nick Chafee. 860 00:46:48,716 --> 00:46:52,116 Speaker 1: Our executive producer is Mia la Belle. Broken Record is 861 00:46:52,156 --> 00:46:55,236 Speaker 1: a production of Pushkin Industries and if you like the show, 862 00:46:55,476 --> 00:46:57,916 Speaker 1: please remember to share, rate and review us on your 863 00:46:57,956 --> 00:47:01,036 Speaker 1: podcast at Our theme musics by Kenny Beats. I'm justin 864 00:47:01,156 --> 00:47:02,076 Speaker 1: Richmond Pace