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Clay Hammond - Sad News RIP

Clay Hammond - Sad News RIP magazine cover

Sad to hear that Clay Hammond died on Friday.

 

 

added by site

 

 

 

Clayton Hammond Jr born 21 June 1936 in Groesbeck, Texas

Clay Hammond was an original founding member of the Gospel greats "The Mighty Clouds Of Joy".in the late 50s Clay was the older brother of Walter Hammond, who was a singer with the original Olympics. Initially achieving success as a songwriter, Clay's composition 'Part Time Love' was a number 1 R&B single for ' Little' Johnny Taylor. Hammond later recorded for several labels, including Galaxy and Duo Disc, before settling with Kent in 1967.

 

His releases included two superb southern soul ballads, 'You Messed Up My Mind' (1966) and 'I'll Make It Up To You' (1968). Clay's subsequent recordings were more irregular, although a successful Japanese tour did produce an album, These Arms Of Mine. In 1981 he joined the Rivingtons, who were still working the oldies circuit on the strength of their novelty hit 'Papa Oom Mow Mow'. Hammond later sang with one of the many different Drifters groups while continuing to record as a solo artist

 

.His most well-known efforts from that time are the four singles he did for Kent between 1966-69. These mixed Southern soul, gospel, and blues styles, yet also had a somewhat lighter and poppier production aura than much Southern soul, perhaps because they were recorded in Los Angeles. All eight songs from these 45s, as well as eight others that were recorded but not released in the 1960s, appear on the Ace CD Southern , which also includes ten tracks recorded for Kent around the same time by fellow soul vocalist Z.Z. Hill.

 

"Clay's bittersweet, almost crying vocals bestow a syllable-bending nonchalance with a lyric, always belying an obvious Sam Cooke influence, though no one has ever mastered this style with quite the flair of Hammond, (Johnny Taylor, Bobby Womack and James Phelps arguably excepted!!)."

from Southern Soul Brothers cd notes at

 

http://www.acerecord...59&release=1044

 

Discography

http://www.soulfulki...et/chammond.htm

Website/ Main Source

http://www.clayhammondblues.com

 

 

 




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Thats really sad Paul..................Clay made some real gems. Sadly,almost unknown except to "real" soul music fans...........

.I really love these by him :

You Have Messed Up My Mind

Do Right Woman

You Wont Have To Suffer No More

You Must Be Making Love

Come Into These Arms Of Love

I Know What Love Is...............

And plenty more................

Clay Hammond, RIP

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Sad new indeed. One of the all time soul and soul/gospel greats.

Truely a fabulous artist and southern soul giant.

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Sad to hear of his passing

I've only heard of his stuff released on kent cds

My jealous girl, The good side of my girl & I'm gonna be sweeter are my favs

RIP

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Very sad news. So many great performances from an exceptional singer, but my favourite of them all was "I'll Make It Up To You" on Kent. Timeless soul music of the very highest quality.

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Very sad news indeed, saw him in Utrecht 'estafette' a few years ago he was fantastic.

Apart from his recordings for Kent etc in the 60's his later recordings for Leon Haywood's EVEJIM label in the late 80's are worth listening to, License to steal and Streets will love you to death are stand out tracks.

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So many incredible tracks by this supremely talented man, and I have so many favourites - most of which have been mentioned above...

...but this one just about tops them all:

...A true great both as a singer and songwriter. Go rest high on that mountain Mr. H.

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Yet another sad loss , Clay's Kent recording of my jealous girl being my particular favourite of so many superb sides he cut. RIP Cllay Melv K

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Yes, really sorry to hear this.

I caught that Utrecht concert too. It was great to hear him still able to hit all the high notes.

I interviewed him at the time and kept in touch over the years. Lovely guy....

Martin.

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