Merry Clayton Finds Redemption
Broken Record with Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam and Justin Richmond
Pushkin Industries
4.5 • 4.3K Ratings
🗓️ 30 March 2021
⏱️ 47 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Merry Clayton is a legendary backup singer who has managed to consistently steal the spotlight. Merry’s journey from a renowned backup singer to a solo artist was documented in the Oscar-winning documentary 20 Feet From Stardom in 2013. Almost exactly one year after the film was released, Merry was involved in a near-fatal car accident that resulted in her losing both of her legs. After years of intensive physical therapy, Merry is back and set to release a brand new album, Beautiful Scars.
On today’s episode Merry Clayton talks to Bruce Headlam about the lasting impression hearing Mahalia Jackson and Aretha Franklin sing in church left on her as a little girl. She also recalls how the Rolling Stones convinced her to get out of bed in the middle of the night to record backup vocals on their 1969 classic, “Gimmie Shelter,” and how Coldplay's Chris Martin was the first person to get Merry back in the studio after her tragic car accident.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Music |
| 0:06.0 | Pushkin |
| 0:15.0 | Mary Clayton is a legendary back of center |
| 0:18.0 | and one of the few who managed to consistently steal the spot by |
| 0:23.0 | Southern Man you better keep your head don't forget what your good books had |
| 0:34.0 | Mary grew up singing in her father's Baptist Church New Orleans before |
| 0:38.0 | becoming a part of Ray Charles back in group The Ray Lets in 1966 |
| 0:43.0 | From there her powerhouse vocals appeared on a number of classic songs |
| 0:48.0 | from artists like Leonard Skinner, Neil Young and Carol King |
| 0:53.0 | Mary's journey from a renowned backup singer to a solo artist |
| 0:57.0 | was documented in the Oscar winning documentary 20 feet from Stardom in 2013 |
| 1:02.0 | Almost exactly one year after the film was released |
| 1:05.0 | Mary was involved in a near fatal car accident in Los Angeles |
| 1:09.0 | that accident resulted in her losing both of her legs |
| 1:13.0 | After years of intensive physical therapy Mary was back in the studio |
| 1:18.0 | working with her longtime producer Lou Adler on brand new material |
| 1:23.0 | Her new album Beautiful Scars is a testament to her enduring faith |
| 1:28.0 | featuring songs by famed songwriter Diane Warren and also Coldplay's Chris Martin |
| 1:34.0 | On today's episode Mary Clayton talks to Bruce Hadlam about the lasting impression |
| 1:38.0 | hearing Mahalia Jackson and Aretha Franklin singing church |
| 1:42.0 | left on her as a little girl. She also recalls how the Rolling Stones |
| 1:46.0 | convinced her to get out of bed in the middle of the night and sing on their 1969 classic |
... |
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