Judy Clay

Judy Clay (September 12, 1938 – July 19, 2001) was an American soul and gospel singer, who achieved greatest success as a member of two recording duos in the 1960s.

Life

Born Judith Grace Guions, in St. Pauls, North Carolina, she was raised by her grandmother in Fayetteville and began singing in church. After moving to Brooklyn in the early 1950s, she was taken in by Lee Drinkard Warrick of The Drinkard Singers. From the age of 14, she became a regular performer with the family gospel group, which had originally been formed in Savannah, Georgia, around 1938, and which also at times included Lee Warrick's sister Emily (later known as Cissy Houston) and daughters Dionne and Delia (later better known as Dionne and Dee Dee Warwick). Clay made her recorded debut with the Drinkard Singers - who later became better known as The Sweet Inspirations - on their 1954 album, The Newport Spiritual Stars.

She left the Drinkard Singers in 1960 and made her first solo recording, "More Than You Know", on Ember Records. This was followed by further singles on several record labels, but with little commercial success, although "You Busted My Mind" later became successful on the UK's Northern soul club circuit. In 1967, Jerry Wexler of Atlantic Records teamed her up with white singer-songwriter Billy Vera to make the United States' first racially integrated duo, and The Sweet Inspirations, to record "Storybook Children". The record made #20 on the US R&B chart and #54 pop. It was seen as the first interracial duo recording for a major label However, Vera has stated that television executives denied them appearances together, believing (wrongly) that Vera and Clay were more than just singing partners, and, to add insult to injury, had the song performed on network TV by Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood.

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Industrial project opposed by many

The Pioneer News 13 Mar 2025

Industrial project opposed by many ... Governor, we appreciate your leadership and your sincere willingness to help the people of this Commonwealth ... 1. Rural Heritage — With KSU’s Harold R ... 2 ... 3 ... Sincerely, ... Judy Tinsley ... Judy Lundquist. 1054 Clay Burgin Rd ... .

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Algonac-Clay Library group offers support for caregivers

The Voice 11 Mar 2025

Algonac-Clay Library Board member Judy Campbell began the group almost a decade ago to provide hope to caregivers navigating the tricky tightrope of the medical world and a new relationship with a loved one.

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Judy Clay

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Storybook Children

Born: 1938-09-12

Died: 2001-07-19

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Algonac-Clay Library group offers support for caregivers

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