Performance · Other credits
Merry Clayton
Gert Town, United States · b. 1948-12-25
Merry Clayton is credited on 1,719 releases across 204 albums tracked on Gatefold, active 1969–2025 — the collector-built map of who actually made the music.
1,719
Credits
204
Albums
7
Decades active
1,166
In collections
Biography
Showing the Discogs bio
Soul - gospel - rhythm 'n' blues disco singer - actress
Born on 25.12.1948 in Gert Town, New Orleans, Louisiana.
Wife of the late jazz artist Curtis Amy
Sister of Little Feat's percussionist Sam Clayton.
Debuted at 14 years old in 1962 with the duet with 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 Betty Everett's version that became a hit the same year.
She was one of the original Raelets, the backing vocalists of Ray Charles.
She did back vocals on Neil Young's debut in 1968.
She is best known for her duet with 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 Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama".
She went on singing back vocals for Tom Jones, Joe Cocker and 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.
Bio from Discogs
Credited work
1,719 releases · 204 albums · active 1969–2025
- Performance · 2,391
- Other credits · 87
- Production · 7
Studios: A&M Studios · Sunset Sound · Sunwest Recording Studios · Olympic Studios
Discography
Records they worked on — most-collected first.

Tapestry
1971

Let It Bleed
1969

Decade
1977

Second Helping
1974

Neil Young
1969

With A Little Help From My Friends
1969

Ringo
1973

Under The Pink
1994

Joe Cocker!
1969

Gold & Platinum
1979

A Head Full Of Dreams
2015

Music
1971

The Breakfast Club (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
1985

Tommy
1972

Forty Licks
2002

Garcia
1974

Skynyrd's Innyrds: Their Greatest Hits
1989

Joe Cocker's Greatest Hits
1977

The Best Of B.B. King
1973

Her Greatest Hits (Songs Of Long Ago)
1978

Musical Massage
1976

City Life
1975

Stoney End
1971

Light Up The Night
1980
Frequent collaborators
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