Otis Clay is one of the premier deep soul and gospel singers working today. His raw, fiery vocals drive an energetic and danceable blend of soul, R&B and blues in the tradition of such deep soul singers as Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett and Solomon Burke.
Clay was born in Waxhall, Mississippi, and grew up surrounded by gospel music of the 1940s and ’50s. It was here that he got his start singing with groups like The Pilgrim Harmonizers, The Gospel Songbirds and the Sensational Nightingales. Upon moving to Chicago in the 1960s, he made a number of recordings that established him as a rising force in deep soul, and his hit records cemented his status as one of the most passionate voices in music.
A longtime resident of Chicago’s West Side, Clay has been actively involved in his community, serving as a board member for several nonprofit organizations aimed at providing economic initiatives to individuals and businesses, neighborhood revitalization, and promoting cultural and economic growth. Whether bringing audiences around the globe to their feet with his fiery brand of soul and gospel or working tirelessly with community and church leaders to provide better economic and cultural opportunities for West and South Side Chicago residents, Otis Clay has proven himself to be a national treasure.
His intense and upbeat live shows have always been the hallmark of his career, and the energy he brings to each performance is a rare thing indeed. Witness one of the masters at work!
