Willie Clayton

Willie Clayton is an American Chicago blues and soul-blues singer and songwriter. He has recorded over 25 albums since the 1980s. Performing since the late 1960s, from the 1980s onwards his chart successes span the decades.

Allmusic noted that Clayton is "one of those vocalists who could sing the phone book and the result would sound perfectly phrased and memorable." Along with Buddy Guy, Koko Taylor, and Little Milton, Clayton was one of the most important figures in Chicago blues in the 1970s and 1980s.

Clayton was born in Indianola, Mississippi, United States, as one of 11 siblings. He sang gospel in his local church as a youngster. Duplex Records issued his debut single, "That's the Way Daddy Did" (1969). In 1971, Clayton relocated to Chicago, Illinois, and appeared regularly in the local clubs. He was introduced to Al Green's record producer, Willie Mitchell, who signed Clayton to a recording contract with Pawn, a subsidiary label of Hi Records. Mitchell produced several tracks with Clayton, including "I Must Be Losin' You," "It's Time You Made Up Your Mind," and "Baby You're Ready,", but none of them reached the national charts. Clayton toured nationally on the same bill as Green, James Brown and Barry White, before creating his own label, Sky Hero, which issued "Living with You, But My Heart Is Somewhere Else."

His latest album, I Am Rhythm & Blues, was released in 2012. His latest song is entitled, "Woman, Lover, Friend."

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