As you can see in the photo to the left Otis Clay, a dynamic soul and R&B singer also has a passion for colourful clothing.  He came out on stage at the Burnaby (Canada) Blues and Roots Festival decked out in a bright, multicoloured striped shirt and red pants. You might say that he was the center of attention in more ways than one!  Despite being brightly adorned, Clay’s clothing could not detract from the amazing vocals that the sixty-five year old still possesses.  

Clay who began his career as a gospel singer during the 1950’s, before moving into R&B in the 1960’s, opened with “You’re The One That I’ve Been Living For,” demonstrating that he still has the energy, passion and vocals to ignite a crowd. Before the song was more than a few bars old, the audience was dancing and grooving to the beat.

He sang about heartbreak “When Hearts Grow Cold,” (Respect Yourself—2005) and heartfelt love, “I Can Take You To Heaven Tonight,” (I’ll Treat You Right—1992). “When Hearts Grow Cold,” is a slow moving, soulful ballad that was highlighted by some extraordinary Hammond B3 organ chops from Benny Brown. During “I Can Take You To Heaven Tonight,” Clay acted as the choirmaster leading his fans through the chorus. As the song drew to a close, he teased the crowd with, “Ya’ll got ego trippin’, because you were singing so good.” The majority of the nearly five thousand who were in attendance at Deer Lake Park responded with laughter.

When he is singing a slow ballad Clay reminds you of Brook Benton, circa “Rainy Night In Georgia.” With his more upbeat melodies and R&B rhythms, he is reminiscent of Otis Redding singing “Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay,” and Wilson Pickett (“Midnight Hour”).

As Clay sang, “I Get Lonely,” he paid tribute to some of the finest R&B/soul singers the world has ever known, including Sam Cooke, Otis Redding and Jackie Wilson.   

Clay closed out his brief set with a subtle but poignant protest against the Iraq war. His reworking of the Jackie DeShannon song “What The World Needs Now Is Love,” served as the musical vehicle to deliver his message, which simply was, there has to be a better way because we do not need anymore young women and men dying.

Otis Clay is one act I that I am glad I took in, during this hot afternoon in the Pacific coast city of Burnaby.

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Photo by Joe Montague ©

Reviewed August 12, 2007

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