Merry Clayton

Born: Dec. 25, 1948, in New Orleans

First recording: “Who Can I Count On?,” a duet with Bobby Darin on his million-selling album “You’re the Reason I’m Living” (1963) First solo singles: “The Doorbell Rings” (1962), “It’s in His Kiss” (1963)

First road work: Clayton toured with the Ray Charles Orchestra from 1966 to 1968 as the lead singer in his four-woman vocal group, The Raelettes. She is featured on The Raelettes’ 1968 album “Souled Out,” which also features Ike & Tina Turner and (for contractual reasons) was credited to The Raelets.

First solo album: “Gimme Shelter” (1970)

Recording credits: Too many to count! Some of Clayton’s most celebrated vocals are featured on the Rolling Stones’ “Gimme Shelter,” Neil Young’s “Southern Man,” Joe Cocker’s “Feelin’ Alright,” Carole King’s “Way Over Yonder,” Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama,” Donald Byrd & The Blackbyrds’ “Rock Creek Park,” Tom Scott & The L.A. Express’ “Jump Back,” Tori Amos’ “Cornflake Girl,” and G-love & Special Sauce’s “One Night Romance.” First Grammy nomination: “Oh, No, Not My Baby” (1972, for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance)

First Grammy win: Best Music Film (2014, for “20 Feet From Stardom”)

Movie and TV credits: Clayton sang “Yes” on the soundtrack of the 1987 film “Dirty Dancing” and “Lift Every Voice and Sing” in the 1970 film “Brewster Mccloud.” She appears on screen singing “I Can Still Shine” in 1987’s “Maid to Order” and, in 1977 and 1978, appeared as the character Verna Lee Jordan in 17 episodes of the TV series “Cagney & Lacey.” She also sang “Keep Your Eye on the Sparrow,” the theme song to the 1970s TV series “Baretta.”

Did you know? The London Symphony Orchestra’s all-star 1972 double-album version of The Who’s rock opera “Tommy” featured Clayton performing “The Acid Queen.” The 1975 film version of “Tommy” featured Tina Turner portraying and singing “The Acid Queen.”

Family affair: Clayton’s son, former San Diego radio DJ Kevin Amy, sings on her 1980 solo album “Emotion.” Her granddaughter, Kyliyah, sings on Clayton’s new album, “Beautiful Scars,” which also features a vintage tenor saxophone solo by her late husband, former Ray Charles Orchestra musical director Joe Amy (who died in 2002). Her younger brother, Fallbrook resident Sam Clayton, has been the percussionist in the celebrated band Little Feat since 1973.

Quote of note: “How would I like to be remembered? Well, let me tell you: I’d like to be remembered. To quote the song by Quincy Jones and (pioneering Los Angeles rap group) The Watts Prophets: ‘From the basement of my heart to the balcony of my mind,’ I’d just like to remembered.”