Willie Clayton

Willie Clayton, a soulful vocalist born in Indianola, Mississippi on March 29, 1955, began his music career singing in church and later joined an R&B group called the Soul Blenders. He moved to Chicago in 1971, where he gained local popularity and eventually signed with Pawn Records under producer Willie Mitchell. Despite early efforts, Clayton's breakthrough came in 1984 with singles like "Tell Me" and "What a Way to Put It," leading to a record deal with Polydor and subsequent releases with labels such as Ace and Ichiban Records.

Throughout his career, Clayton released albums like "Never Too Late" in 1989 and "The Last Man Standing" in 2002, showcasing a blend of soul, blues, and R&B influences. He later signed with Malaco Records, achieving success with albums like "Full Circle" and "Soul and Blues." Clayton's discography includes a mix of original material and covers, with notable releases like "Sings the Number Ones" in 2011 and "Born to Sing" in 2020, solidifying his reputation as a respected figure in the soul and blues music scene.