Doctor Clayton

Doctor Clayton (born Peter Joe Clayton April 19, 1898 – January 7, 1947) was an American blues singer and songwriter.

Biography

Clayton was born in Georgia, though he later claimed he had been born in Africa, and moved to St. Louis as a child with his family. He had four children, and worked in a factory in St. Louis where he started his career as a singer (he could also play piano and ukulele, however Clayton never did so on record). Clayton recorded six sides for Bluebird Records in 1935, but only two were ever issued. Clayton's entire family died in a house fire in 1937; following this Clayton became an alcoholic and began wearing outsized hats and glasses. In order to pursue his music career, Clayton moved to Chicago with Robert Lockwood, and he received attention from Decca Records, thanks to a helpful recommendation by fellow musician Charley Jordan. Ultimately Clayton returned to Bluebird, recording with Lockwood, bassist Robert Knowling, pianist Blind John Davis, and Lester Melrose, in 1941-42. He also recorded for Okeh Records at this time.