Founding Mothers: Merry Clayton

Merry Clayton, 2005 (Vince Bucci Getty Images Entertainment)

Best known for her performance on the Rolling Stones‘ “Gimme Shelter,” Founding Mother Merry Clayton lent her powerful voice to many other cuts and produced some notable sides under her own name, as well.

Born in Lousiana in 1948, Merry Clayton was still a teenager when she released her earliest singles (including a duet with Bobby Darin called “Who Can I Count On (When I Can’t Count on You?).”

During the 1960s she also performed with Ray Charles as one of his Rae-lettes, sang back up for Elvis and Burt Bacharach and contributed vocal work to the 1968 film, Performance.

It was in ’69 that she became famous for her impassioned howl of “it’s just a shot away” on the Stones’ “Gimme Shelter.” She would also lend her voice to two other rock and roll classics: Lynyrd Skynyrd‘s “Sweet Home Alabama” and Joe Cocker‘s “Feelin’ Alright.”

On her own, she’s released five album since 1970, beginning with her own set entitled Gimme Shelter, ending with her 1994 album Miracles. In ’94, she also appeared in Tori Amos‘ “Cornflake Girl.”

Here’s Merry’s funky version of “Gimme Shelter,” followed by the Stones:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJDnJ0vXUgw

It’s our Gallery of Greats! Check out more Founding Fathers here…