Sam Clayton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sam Clayton
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Clayton outside the 9:30 Club,
Washington, DC, in 2008 |
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| Background information | |
| Born | 30 March 1946 |
| Genres | Blues, R&B, gospel music, roots rock, blues rock, swamp rock, jam band |
| Occupation(s) | Musician songwriter record producer |
| Instruments | Vocals, percussion |
| Associated acts | Little Feat, Little Richard, Bonnie Raitt |
Sam Clayton, born on September 16, 1946, is an American musician. He is a singer and plays percussion instruments like drums, congas, and djembes. He is most famous for being a supporting singer and percussionist for the American rock band Little Feat. He has been with the band since 1972.
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Sam Clayton's Early Life and Music
When Sam Clayton was young, he loved R&B and gospel music. These types of music really inspired him. Sam is also the brother of singer Merry Clayton. His brother-in-law is the jazz musician Curtis Amy.
Sam once saw a group of modern dancers and was fascinated by the conga player. Later, he got a chance to play congas with a band at a dinner. This happened right after he lost his job in engineering drafting. This lucky chance led him to join a band and start his music career.
Clayton also played music for a short time with the famous artist Little Richard. He has said that he was inspired by what Mongo Santamaría did with Cal Tjader.
Joining the Band Little Feat
Sam Clayton was introduced to the band Little Feat by his friend Kenny Gradney. Sam and Kenny had played together before with another group called Delaney & Bonnie. Kenny Gradney joined Little Feat to replace their original bass player, Roy Estrada.
Kenny suggested Sam to the band because both of them needed work. The band also added guitarist Paul Barrere. With these new members, Little Feat became a six-person band.
Sam's First Album with Little Feat
Sam Clayton first played with Little Feat on their third album, Dixie Chicken, which came out in 1973. He also played congas on Bonnie Raitt's song "Sweet Forgiveness" in 1977.
Over time, Sam's singing skills became more important to the band. His percussion playing also added a funkier sound to their music. Even though he rarely sang the main vocals, his unique bass vocals were heard on songs like "Rock 'n' Roll Doctor."
Sam's Lead Vocals and Later Work
Sam's first time singing lead vocals for Little Feat was on the song "Feel The Groove." This song was on their album Down on the Farm in 1979. However, the band broke up soon after that. The founder of the band, Lowell George, sadly passed away. Little Feat did not get back together until 1987.
When Little Feat reformed, Sam's voice became even more noticeable. He sang on songs like "The Ingenue" and "Romance Without Finance." For many years, he also sang the classic song "Spanish Moon" during Little Feat's live shows.
Little Feat released their newest album, Sam's Place, in 2024. This album is special because Sam Clayton sings lead vocals on every song. Most of the songs are covers of old blues songs. The first song, "Milkman," was written by Clayton and the band's guitarists, Fred Tackett and Scott Sharrard.
Sam Clayton's Session Work
Like other members of Little Feat, Sam Clayton is also a respected session musician. This means he plays music for other artists in the recording studio. He has played with many famous musicians. These include Duane Allman, Jimmy Barnes, Jimmy Buffett, Valerie Carter, Freddie King, Robert Palmer, Bonnie Raitt, Bob Seger, and Travis Tritt.
Sam was also a member of Jimmy Buffett's Coral Reefer Band. He toured with them from 1982 to 1988.
Discography
