(January 9, 2019) She may have spent much of her career twenty feet from stardom, but Clydie King was certainly a star in the eyes of the music world. Sadly, the much lauded singer died yesterday at age 75.
King was working regularly by her teenage years, first as the lead singer in her own group, Little Clydie and the Teens, but later on a much bigger stage as part of Ray Charles’ legendary backup singers, The Raelettes.
Notice soon came to her and led to her becoming one of the most sought after vocalists of the 1960s and 70s, notably part of Phil Spector’s “Wall of Sound.” She also backed up acts of every stripe, from B.B. King to Steely Dan, to Joe Cocker, Bob Dylan, Elton John, Barbra Streisand and a virtual who’s who of 70s era performers. She even sang on the Lynyrd Skynyrd’s rock anthem, “Sweet Home Alabama.”
Unlike many other great background singers, Ms. King also maintained her own career up front, both as a solo singer and as the lead in Clydie King & Brown Sugar. Her most noted hit was 1971’s “Bout Love,” but she issued singles regularly for two decades.
Certainly Clydie King never became a household name, but the versatile vocalist’s contributions to the advancement of rock, R&B, blues and pop is almost immeasurable. She will be missed.
