NOVEMBER 12,2006:
"WILLIE CLAYTON HOMECOMING"
Hello Blues and Southern Soul fans.Indianola,Mississippi welcomed home one of its favorite sons last night.Some people refer to him as Big Willie and some call him Mr. Equal Opportunity but I simply call him "The Lil Giant Of Soul",the dynamic Willie Clayton.Indianola is also the home of the King Of The Blues,B.B. King and Albert King.Every year B.B. King has his homecoming at the start of summer and Willie Clayton has his homecoming at the end of the year but both are able to return to their roots and give the country folks some good blues and southern soul music.This is just a testimony to these hard-working artists remembering their humble up-bringings.
The people here in the Mississippi Delta are truly greatful and proud of these country boys. Club Ebony played host to "The Lil Giant Of Soul".Club Ebony has hosted the likes of Ray Charles,Count Baise,James Brown,Ike Turner,Little Milton,Bobby Blue Bland,Howlin Wolf,Rufus Thomas,Bobby Rush,Denise Lasalle,Albert King, and B.B. King and a number of other blues and southern soul artists.This is truly one of the last of the Mississippi Juke Joints that still operates on a regular basis.Club owner,Mary Shepard has been a pillar for this establishment for over four decades.
I was joined on this night by fellow Dawg Pound member Big Daddy Ram,the newest member of the Dawg Pound Marlon Parris a.k.a. "The Marvelous One" and my co-worker the Bluz Queen.When we arrived the house was not packed yet and this was sort of a suprise to me.Usually its standing room only early for a Willie Clayton performance.I had the opportunity to chat with him and his bodyguard,Steve before the show began.He has always acknowledge and showed me a lot of love over the past two years and I'm glad that I can call Willie Clayton my friend.We were able to get a table close to the stage so we had a great spot for tonights show.
The DJ had the sounds of Tyrone Davis,Monique Ford,Johnnie Taylor,T.K. Soul and other artists echoing through the club.The smell of fried fish and chicken wings had this juke joint like Big mama's house.With the Bud Light and Corona on hand sit back good people and let me take you on this blues and southern soul ride. WGNL radio personality,Cyreio Hughes was the mc for tonight's show.As Willie Clayton made his way to the stage the club was now packed and the people were all up on their feet and making some noise.I've seen him and T.K. Soul more times over the last couple of years than any other artists and their popularity continues to soar.
He opened his performance with "I Want You" and the ladies immediately begin to scream and shout."Party Like We Used To Do" was next and the dance floor got packed.The entire club was feeling this cut and the place was rocking by now.He slowed it back down with "Simply Beautiful" as the ladies were flocked down by the stage.He performed my personal favorite "I Love Me Some You" and I found my way to the dance floor.I never get tired of hearing this cut and his soulful voice filled the club. The next part of his show was the best.He always pays tribute to the artist who paved the way for him and tonight was no different.He sampled a lil Tyrone Davis and Johnnie Taylor for the crowd who all gave him a roaring ovation with each rendition but it was his next tribute that was the highlight of the show.Only twenty-four(24) hours after the untimely death of r&b crooner,Gerald Levert,Willie Clayton began to delight the crowd with several selections of the artist known as G-Bear.He performed "Baby Hold On To Me" and the place erupted.He did G-Bear justice with this moving tribute.He sampled his cut "Made To Love You" and again the people in attendance gave him a thunderous ovation.I was really moved by this tribute especially with it being only 24 hours after his death.He kept the Levert family theme going as he performed several of The O'Jays classic hits."We Cried Together(Me & My Woman)" and "Stairway To Heaven" received the biggest ovations.He dedicated a large portion of his performance to the Levert family and the people in attendance didn't mind it at all.We all should keep the Levert family in our prayers. He went on to perform some more of his big hits,"My Baby's Cheating On Me","Love Mechanic","I'll Make It Good To You","If You Ever Get Lonely",I'm Going Crazy","Wiggle" and "Three People Sleeping In My Bed" kept the southern soul party alive.I hit the dance floor again on "Unconditionally".
He closed his performance with two songs from his new cd."Boom,Boom,Boom" is going to be another big hit for him.The crowd showed him a lot of love as he performed this soul hit that should be heard on mainstream radio stations.He closed his performance with"Runnig Out Of Lies" a remake of Etta James classic hit which has also been covered by Johnnie Taylor.If you haven't purchased his new cd titled "Gifted" please do so now.I've listen to the entire cd and this one is da bomb.The smaller the club the bigger the party held true to form last night.It was another electrifying performance by Willie Clayton.
I want to give a shout out to WGNL radio personality,Cyreio Hughes,Bluz Queen,fellow Dawg Pound members Big Daddy Ram and The Marvelous One.I had a great time last night and as always I just wanted to share it with you the greatest fans in the world.Take care and MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALWAYS.
Big K9
"WILLIE CLAYTON HOMECOMING"
Hello Blues and Southern Soul fans.Indianola,Mississippi welcomed home one of its favorite sons last night.Some people refer to him as Big Willie and some call him Mr. Equal Opportunity but I simply call him "The Lil Giant Of Soul",the dynamic Willie Clayton.Indianola is also the home of the King Of The Blues,B.B. King and Albert King.Every year B.B. King has his homecoming at the start of summer and Willie Clayton has his homecoming at the end of the year but both are able to return to their roots and give the country folks some good blues and southern soul music.This is just a testimony to these hard-working artists remembering their humble up-bringings.
The people here in the Mississippi Delta are truly greatful and proud of these country boys. Club Ebony played host to "The Lil Giant Of Soul".Club Ebony has hosted the likes of Ray Charles,Count Baise,James Brown,Ike Turner,Little Milton,Bobby Blue Bland,Howlin Wolf,Rufus Thomas,Bobby Rush,Denise Lasalle,Albert King, and B.B. King and a number of other blues and southern soul artists.This is truly one of the last of the Mississippi Juke Joints that still operates on a regular basis.Club owner,Mary Shepard has been a pillar for this establishment for over four decades.
I was joined on this night by fellow Dawg Pound member Big Daddy Ram,the newest member of the Dawg Pound Marlon Parris a.k.a. "The Marvelous One" and my co-worker the Bluz Queen.When we arrived the house was not packed yet and this was sort of a suprise to me.Usually its standing room only early for a Willie Clayton performance.I had the opportunity to chat with him and his bodyguard,Steve before the show began.He has always acknowledge and showed me a lot of love over the past two years and I'm glad that I can call Willie Clayton my friend.We were able to get a table close to the stage so we had a great spot for tonights show.
The DJ had the sounds of Tyrone Davis,Monique Ford,Johnnie Taylor,T.K. Soul and other artists echoing through the club.The smell of fried fish and chicken wings had this juke joint like Big mama's house.With the Bud Light and Corona on hand sit back good people and let me take you on this blues and southern soul ride. WGNL radio personality,Cyreio Hughes was the mc for tonight's show.As Willie Clayton made his way to the stage the club was now packed and the people were all up on their feet and making some noise.I've seen him and T.K. Soul more times over the last couple of years than any other artists and their popularity continues to soar.
He opened his performance with "I Want You" and the ladies immediately begin to scream and shout."Party Like We Used To Do" was next and the dance floor got packed.The entire club was feeling this cut and the place was rocking by now.He slowed it back down with "Simply Beautiful" as the ladies were flocked down by the stage.He performed my personal favorite "I Love Me Some You" and I found my way to the dance floor.I never get tired of hearing this cut and his soulful voice filled the club. The next part of his show was the best.He always pays tribute to the artist who paved the way for him and tonight was no different.He sampled a lil Tyrone Davis and Johnnie Taylor for the crowd who all gave him a roaring ovation with each rendition but it was his next tribute that was the highlight of the show.Only twenty-four(24) hours after the untimely death of r&b crooner,Gerald Levert,Willie Clayton began to delight the crowd with several selections of the artist known as G-Bear.He performed "Baby Hold On To Me" and the place erupted.He did G-Bear justice with this moving tribute.He sampled his cut "Made To Love You" and again the people in attendance gave him a thunderous ovation.I was really moved by this tribute especially with it being only 24 hours after his death.He kept the Levert family theme going as he performed several of The O'Jays classic hits."We Cried Together(Me & My Woman)" and "Stairway To Heaven" received the biggest ovations.He dedicated a large portion of his performance to the Levert family and the people in attendance didn't mind it at all.We all should keep the Levert family in our prayers. He went on to perform some more of his big hits,"My Baby's Cheating On Me","Love Mechanic","I'll Make It Good To You","If You Ever Get Lonely",I'm Going Crazy","Wiggle" and "Three People Sleeping In My Bed" kept the southern soul party alive.I hit the dance floor again on "Unconditionally".
He closed his performance with two songs from his new cd."Boom,Boom,Boom" is going to be another big hit for him.The crowd showed him a lot of love as he performed this soul hit that should be heard on mainstream radio stations.He closed his performance with"Runnig Out Of Lies" a remake of Etta James classic hit which has also been covered by Johnnie Taylor.If you haven't purchased his new cd titled "Gifted" please do so now.I've listen to the entire cd and this one is da bomb.The smaller the club the bigger the party held true to form last night.It was another electrifying performance by Willie Clayton.
I want to give a shout out to WGNL radio personality,Cyreio Hughes,Bluz Queen,fellow Dawg Pound members Big Daddy Ram and The Marvelous One.I had a great time last night and as always I just wanted to share it with you the greatest fans in the world.Take care and MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALWAYS.
Big K9