b. Willie Clayton, 29th March 1955, Indianola, Mississippi, U.S.A.
Willie Clayton is a Soul singer and drummer from Mississippi.
your sweetness (1987)
Amongst Soul fans, his song ‘Your Sweetness’ (Kirstee Records 12”) has become something of a classic, regularly number one on the London playlists back in 1987.
Born in March 1955, he was one of ten siblings, moving on to sing in church.
the soul blenders
He became a member of the R&B group the Soul Blenders, who released 5 singles on Duplex Records, including ‘That's What My Daddy Did’ b/w 'Falling In Love', in 1969.
The Soul Blenders hailed from Dallas, Texas and were the backing group for the Louisiana vocalist Ernie Johnson. with Willie playing drums.
Willie relocated to Chicago in 1971.
There, he was introduced to the legendary producer, Willie Mitchell, who signed him, in 1974, to the Hi Records subsidiary, Pawn Records.
Willie Mitchell produced several songs, including ‘I Must Be Losin' You’, ‘It's Time You Made Up Your Mind’, and ‘Baby You're Ready’, before Willie’s deal with Pawn came to an end.
He then went on to tour with the likes of Al Green, Barry White, and James Brown.
Willie set up the Sky Hero imprint in 1980, releasing ‘Living with You, But My Heart Is Somewhere Else’.
forever - 1988 / never too late -1989 / open the door - 1992 / feels like love - 1992
In 1984 his songs ‘Tell Me’ (produced by General Crook) and ‘What a Way to Put It’ for Compleat Records has some success in the R&B charts.
let's get together - 1993 / simply beautiful - 1994 / no getting over me - 1995 / chapter one - 1997
Willie recorded a couple of singles for the Kirstee label (including ‘Where Has Love Gone’ and ‘Your Sweetness’), which led to a record deal with Polydor Records.
changing tha game - 2005 / gifted - 2006 / my tyme - 2008 / love, romance & respect - 2009
He went o to record for several further labels, including Endzone and Malaco Records (Full Circle’, ‘Gifted’, ‘My Tyme’, and ‘Soul and Blues’).
sings the number ones - 2010 / if your loving wasn't... - 2011 / i am rhythm & blues - 2012 / the tribute vol. 2 - 2013
At Endzone, between 2017 and 2022, he recorded several albums which featured in the Top Ten of the Blues Albums charts (including ‘Crossroad Of The Blues’, ‘Sings The Number Ones’, ‘Excellence’, ‘Simply Beautiful’, ‘Soul Caesar’ and ‘Caesar Soul & Blues’)
Albums:
Forever (P-Vine Records 1988)
Never Too Late (Polydor Records 1989)
Feels Like Love (Kirstee/lchiban Records 1992)
Let's Get Together (Ace Records 1993)
Simply Beautiful (Valley Vue Records 1995)
No Getting Over Me (Ichiban Records 1995)
Ace In The Hole (Ace Records 1996)
Chapter One (Claytown Records 1997)
Something To Talk About (Avanti Records 1998)
God Has A Plan (Avanti Records 1998)
It's About Love (Sumthing Else Records 1999)
The Lost Tracks (Avanti Records Records 1999)
Call Me Mr. C (Clatown Records 2000)
The Little Giant (Clatown Records 2001)
Changing Tha Game (Endzone Entertainment Records 2004)
Gifted (Malaco Records 2007)
My Tyme (Malaco Records 2008)
Soul And Blues (Malaco Records 2008)
Love, Romance & Respect (Malaco Records 2009)
Sings The Number One's (Music Access Inc. Records 2010)
If Your Loving Wasn't... (S.D.E.G./WC Music Records 2011)
I Am Rhythm And Blues (Music Access Inc. Records 2012)
The Tribute Vol.2 (Music Access Inc.Records 2013)
Crossroad Of The Blues (End Zone Entertainment Records 2017)
Sings The Number Ones (End Zone Entertainment Records 2018)
Excellence (End Zone Entertainment Records 2019)
Simply Beautiful (IUnidisc Music Inc. Records 2020)
Soul Caesar (End Zone Entertainment Records 2021)
Caesar Soul & Blues (End Zone Entertainment Records 2022)
