Joe Clay
Encyclopedia
Joe Clay is an American rockabilly
musician from Gretna, Louisiana
.
Clay first began performing at age 12 in a country
band, who were offered a spot performing on local radio station WWEZ. RCA
subsidiary Vik Records signed him a few years later, while he was still in his teens; he recorded in New York with guitarists Mickey Baker
and Skeeter Best
, bassist Leonard Gaskin
, and drummers Bobby Donaldson
and Joe Marshall
. In 1956, he appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show, a few months before Elvis Presley
played there, and played a cover
of The Platters
' hit "Only You". Clay would later play guitar on some of Elvis's recordings, but his manager would not let him tour outside the New Orleans area, and he never scored a hit.
After being dropped from RCA, he continued performing in New Orleans for over 30 years. In the 1980s, the rockabilly revival in Europe resulted in renewed interest in Clay; he then toured England in 1986.
Further info about Joe Clay is from source LP 'Ducktail' in 1986; Bear Family Records BFX 15224 (made in West Germany).
Drove a school bus for 15 yrs. in the New Orleans area (reported on the back LP cover in 1986 from Bear Records)
LP back cover "During 1955 his local reputation enabled him to play the prestigious Louisiana Hayride out of Shreveport where he shared billing with the newly emerging Elvis Presley." It also mentions he even filled in as a drummer for Elvis when he played Pontchartrain Amusement Park in New Orleans and D.J. Fontana could not make the gig.
Joe Clay's parents encouraged an early interest in country music and at the age of 12, he was already a competent drummer, later also learning rhythm guitar & electric bass.
The LP "Ducktail" back cover article was written by Ian Wallis, June 1986.
In 2008, Joe Clay appeared in an award-winning Canadian documentary entitled Rockabilly 514
directed by Patricia Chica
and Mike Wafer. He speaks about his early beginnings as a rockabilly musician in the 1950s and his fascination for the new generation of rockabilly kids. He's also seen performing live his single Sixteen Chicks among an enthusiastic crowd of young rockabilly fans.
Rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
musician from Gretna, Louisiana
Gretna, Louisiana
The city of Gretna is the parish seat of Jefferson Parish, in the US state of Louisiana. Gretna is on the west bank of the Mississippi River, just east and across the river from uptown New Orleans. It is part of the New Orleans–Metairie–Kenner Metropolitan Statistical Area...
.
Clay first began performing at age 12 in a country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
band, who were offered a spot performing on local radio station WWEZ. RCA
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
subsidiary Vik Records signed him a few years later, while he was still in his teens; he recorded in New York with guitarists Mickey Baker
Mickey Baker
Mickey Baker, also known as Mickey "Guitar" Baker is an American guitarist...
and Skeeter Best
Skeeter Best
Clifton "Skeeter" Best was an American jazz guitarist.Best played in Philadelphia from 1935 to 1940, recording with Slim Marshall and Erskine Hawkins. In 1940 he joined Earl Hines's orchestra, playing with him until he joined the U.S. Navy in 1942. After the war he played with Bill Johnson from...
, bassist Leonard Gaskin
Leonard Gaskin
Leonard Gaskin was an American jazz bassist born in New York City.Gaskin played on the early bebop scene at Minton's and Monroe's in New York in the early 1940s...
, and drummers Bobby Donaldson
Bobby Donaldson
Bobby Donaldson was an American jazz drummer.After playing locally in the early 1940s, Donaldson played with Russell Procope while serving in the Army in New York City. In 1946-47 Donaldson worked with Cat Anderson, and following this played with Edmond Hall, Andy Kirk, Lucky Millinder, Buck...
and Joe Marshall
Joe Marshall
Joseph Hanley Marshall , nicknamed "Home Run Joe", was an outfielder in Major League Baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals. He also played 12 years in the minor leagues. Marshall stood at 5' 8" and weighed 170 lbs.-Career:Joseph Marshall was born in Audubon, Minnesota...
. In 1956, he appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show, a few months before Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
played there, and played a cover
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of The Platters
The Platters
The Platters were a vocal group of the early rock and roll era. Their distinctive sound was a bridge between the pre-rock Tin Pan Alley tradition and the burgeoning new genre...
' hit "Only You". Clay would later play guitar on some of Elvis's recordings, but his manager would not let him tour outside the New Orleans area, and he never scored a hit.
After being dropped from RCA, he continued performing in New Orleans for over 30 years. In the 1980s, the rockabilly revival in Europe resulted in renewed interest in Clay; he then toured England in 1986.
Further info about Joe Clay is from source LP 'Ducktail' in 1986; Bear Family Records BFX 15224 (made in West Germany).
Drove a school bus for 15 yrs. in the New Orleans area (reported on the back LP cover in 1986 from Bear Records)
LP back cover "During 1955 his local reputation enabled him to play the prestigious Louisiana Hayride out of Shreveport where he shared billing with the newly emerging Elvis Presley." It also mentions he even filled in as a drummer for Elvis when he played Pontchartrain Amusement Park in New Orleans and D.J. Fontana could not make the gig.
Joe Clay's parents encouraged an early interest in country music and at the age of 12, he was already a competent drummer, later also learning rhythm guitar & electric bass.
The LP "Ducktail" back cover article was written by Ian Wallis, June 1986.
In 2008, Joe Clay appeared in an award-winning Canadian documentary entitled Rockabilly 514
Rockabilly 514
Rockabilly 514 is a 2008 Canadian feature documentary directed by Patricia Chica and Mike Wafer . The film documents the lives of a group of people belonging to the rockabilly sub-culture in Montreal, Quebec...
directed by Patricia Chica
Patricia Chica
Patricia Chica also known as Chicatronica is a Canadian film and television director. She is one of the most internationally renowned filmmakers of Salvadorian descent. In 2007 and 2010, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of El Salvador gave her a diploma of recognition for her outstanding...
and Mike Wafer. He speaks about his early beginnings as a rockabilly musician in the 1950s and his fascination for the new generation of rockabilly kids. He's also seen performing live his single Sixteen Chicks among an enthusiastic crowd of young rockabilly fans.
Discography
| Year | Title | Record label |
|---|---|---|
| 1956 | Duck Tail / Sixteen Chicks | Vik Records |
| 1956 | Get On The Right Track / Cracker Jack | Vik Records |
| 1962 | Can’t Get You Out Of My Mind / Don’t Know What To Do | Samter Records |
| 1963 | Love You / My Heart Loves Only You | Samter Records |
| 1963 | I Get So Blue / Little Darlin’ | Samter Records |
|
Vik Records (not issued) |