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Artist
Peter Cleighton
12+ albums
slightly streamableAll
about
Peter Joe Cleighton >Doctor Clayton b. April 9, 1898 in Georgia d. January 7, 1947 in Chicago, Illinois Nearly 50 years after his untimely death the exceptional singer and masterful songwriter known as Doctor Clayton is little spoken of today. Clayton worked strictly as a vocalist (by some accounts he could play piano and ukulele), employing an impressive falsetto technique, later refined into a powerful, swooping style that was instantly recognizable. In addition he was an unparalleled songwriter, writing mostly original material with a rare wit, intelligence and social awareness. Clayton's vocal style was widely emulated and a number of his songs became blues standards. Despite the high esteem he was held in by fellow blues artists and his popularity during his lifetime Clayton's fine blues recordings remain largely ignored. Peter Joe Clayton was born April 19, 1898 in Georgia, by most reports, although claimed he was born in Africa and that he moved to St. Louis with his parents. In St. Louis he married and had four children, was employed as a factory worker and started his singing career. In 1937 tragedy struck when a fire burned down his house, killing his wife and children. He began drinking and living recklessly, a pattern that continued throughout his life. In his book "Big Bill Blues" Big Bill Broonzy reminisced about Clayton with obvious fondness: "Doctor Clayton was a good hearted boy. He wouldn't get a room, he wore tennis shoes in winter time and slept on pool
top songs
albums
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Vintage Songs Of Sex, Drugs & Cigarettes
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30 Essential American Folk Blues Classics
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Roots 'N' Blues/The Retrospective 1925-1950
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Roots N' Blues-1925-1950 (4 of 4)
News And The Blues: Telling It Like It Is
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OKeh Chicago Blues
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Messed up in Love and Other Tales of Woe
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Roots N' Blues - The Retrospective (1925-1950)
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Okeh Blues Story CD1
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News & the Blues: Telling It Like It Is
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Roots N' Blues: The Retrospective 1925-1950
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Roots N' Blues: The Retrospective (1925-1950) (Disc 4)