My dad sung and played piano. But he was also a man of God. He was a minister. So when Sam Cooke would come in town, you know, with The Soul Stirrers at that time, he was singing gospel, they… — Merry Clayton Copy Share Image
I got put out of my church choir because my pastor said, 'We can't have baby sister singing the blues and coming in here and singing on Sunday morning.' — Merry Clayton Copy Share Image
My dad sung and played piano. But he was also a man of God. He was a minister. So when Sam Cooke would come… — Merry Clayton Copy Share
I was very proud to be Mrs. Curtis Amy. My thing in life when I married Curtis Amy was being Mrs. Curtis Amy. Career… — Merry Clayton Copy Share
I was signed to A&M, I was signed to Lou Adler, who had a company within a company, which was A&M Records, and everything… — Merry Clayton Copy Share
My family is part Creole, and were Indian, and were also very, very black. My father was so black, he was blue. — Merry Clayton Copy Share
I started with Bobby Darin. He signed me to Capitol when I was 15. I was 14, getting ready to be 15. Then the… — Merry Clayton Copy Share
I remember working with Ray Charles when I was quite young, and I would wonder, 'Why would he sing 'Georgia On My Mind' and… — Merry Clayton Copy Share
Oh boy, I grew up hearing Sam Cooke, The Soul Stirrers, Mahalia Jackson, sitting on Mahalia Jackson's lap in my dad's church. — Merry Clayton Copy Share
I was able to endure and play a special part in music history. And I always managed to keep working, even if I wasn't… — Merry Clayton Copy Share
I felt like if I just gave my heart to what I was doing, I would automatically be a star. — Merry Clayton Copy Share
I always say that I went to the College of Blossoms and the University of Ray Charles. — Merry Clayton Copy Share
