Otis Clay, American R&B and soul singer, Died at 73

  Music

Otis Clay was born on February 11, 1942, in Bolivar County, Mississippi and died on January 8, 2016.

He was an American R&B and soul singer.

He began singing gospel music.

He was inducted to the Blues Hall of Fame, in 2013.

After he moved to Indiana with his family, he began singing with a local gospel group, the Voices of Hope, he returned to Mississippi to sing with the Christian Travelers, before settling in Chicago in 1957.

Then, Otis joined a series of gospel vocal groups including the Golden Jubilaires, the Famous Blue Jay Singers, the Holy Wonders, and the Pilgrim Harmonizers, before making his first solo secular recordings in 1962.

Otis Clay moved to Mitchell’s, he joined ‘Hi Records’ in 1971.

He made many of his best-known soul blues records for the label.

The singer biggest hit came in late 1972 with “Trying To Live My Life Without You,” a # 102 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, # 70 on Cash Box, and # 24 R&B chart.

He was a popular live act in Europe and Japan, as well as the US, and recorded three live albums, Soul Man: Live in Japan, Otis Clay Live, also in Japan on Victor VDP-5111, and Respect Yourself.

Otis was a nominee for a Grammy for Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance.

Otis Clay passed away at 73 yrs old.