Merry Clayton

[b]Soul - gospel - rhythm 'n' blues disco singer - actress[/b] Born on 25.12.1948 in Gert Town, New Orleans, Louisiana. Wife of the late jazz artist [a=Curtis Amy] Sister of [a=Little Feat]'s percussionist [a=Sam Clayton]. Debuted at 14 years old in 1962 with the duet with [a=Bobby Darin], "Who Can I Count On? (When I Can't Count On You)". She recorded first "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)" but it was [a=Betty Everett]'s version that became a hit the same year. She was one of the original [a=Raelets], the backing vocalists of [a=Ray Charles]. She did back vocals on [a=Neil Young]'s debut in 1968. She is best known for her duet with [a=Mick Jagger] on "Gimme Shelter", an intense performance that was revisited decades later in the documentary "20 Feet from Stardom", which won both an Oscar and a Grammy. She is heard at the background of [a=Lynyrd Skynyrd]'s "Sweet Home Alabama". She went on singing back vocals for [a=Tom Jones], [a=Joe Cocker] and [a=Carole King]. Her biggest hit is the uptempo "Yes" out of the 1987 soundtrack "Dirty Dancing" She released five solo albums through the 70's and one in 1994.