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Merry Clayton Finds Shelter After Accident

Mick Jagger s and Ray Charles backup singer bounces back from tragedy with an album at 72

Merry Clayton Mathieu Bitton She was best known for singing on the Rolling Stones’ “Gimme Shelter.” Then the 2013 Oscar-winning documentary 20 Feet From Stardom gave Merry Clayton her own star turn and a boost for a huge career revival. But in 2014, Clayton lost both legs from the knees down after a car accident. Now she's releasing her new solo album, Beautiful Scars, on April 9.

How did this project get rolling

Lou Adler [her friend and the famous producer of , the Mamas & the Papas, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show] would say to me, “Merry, you have to get well because you know you have to sing.” And I said to myself, Does he know what happened to me? Yet there's something in my experience that says, That's why you have to sing, so that people know: If you can make it through this, they can, too. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine.

Do you remember your reaction back when you regained consciousness following the car accident

The doctor said, “Ms. Clayton, we had some hard decisions to make. In order for us to save your life we had to take your legs from the knees down.” And I said, “Well, did anything happen to my bank? When they put the tube down, did they do anything to my throat?” And he said, “Oh, no, Ms. Clayton, we were told that you were a singer, that we had to take care of your vocal box, and everything turned out fine there.” And I said, “Well, then I'll be fine,” and I started to sing the song that Ashford & Simpson wrote for me called “I Can Still Shine." Entertainment $3 off popcorn and soft drink combos See more Entertainment offers > Motown Gospel

Clayton Facts

Age: 72 Born: Christmas Day (hence her name, “Merry") in Gert Town, New Orleans, Louisiana In the beginning: First hit, “Who Can I Count On” with Bobby Darin, at age 14. First solo tune, “The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss,” at 15. Lead singer of Ray Charles’ backup group the Raelettes, at 18. Albums: Merry Clayton (1971), Keep Your Eye on the Sparrow (1975), Beautiful Scars (2021) Greatest hits with others: The Rolling Stones’ “Gimme Shelter,” Lynyrd Skynyrd's “Sweet Home Alabama,” Ringo Starr's “Oh My My,” songs by Neil Young, Carole King, Linda Ronstadt, Joe Cocker. Stage and screen hits: The Acid Queen in London’s first production of The Who’s Tommy (1972), Ally Sheedy’s film Maid to Order (1987), featuring “The Shoop Shoop Song,” the Oscar and Grammy-winning documentary 20 Feet from Stardom (2013)

Your father was a preacher Are you going back to gospel

Absolutely. I started singing gospel when I was 4 years old in my dad's church. Sam Cooke, the Staples Singers, everybody stopped at my dad's church to sing. I'd sit between Mahalia Jackson and Linda Hopkins. I would lay on both of them because I was so little. Reverend Franklin, Aretha's dad, that's how I knew Aretha. Every artist you could possibly know that is African American, they came out of church. That was our gathering place. If you were at church, your parents knew you were safe. Everything to me has been based off of gospel music. So yes. It all came full circle for me. And what an honor, what blessing it is to be able to let someone know, yeah, I had an accident, but the accident doesn't have to have me.

Is this album sort of taking things full circle for you

Yeah, I think it did come full circle for me. There was something that needs to come out of me that I needed to get into the world. I knew that my light has always shined wherever I go, whatever I do. I always take my light with me. You know, that's all the ancestors that has come through me, my mother, my father, my aunts, my uncles, and all of my ancestors. I take them all with me wherever I go.

Did you have to change your approach at all in the studio with your disability

I was tired. But I didn't miss a beat. I didn't miss a beat. Craig Rosen of Los Angeles is a contributor to Billboard, Yahoo Music and Tidal and the author of R.E.M. Inside Out: The Stories Behind Every Song and The Billboard Book of Number One Albums. More on entertainment AARP NEWSLETTERS %{ newsLetterPromoText }% %{ description }% Subscribe AARP VALUE & MEMBER BENEFITS See more Health & Wellness offers > See more Flights & Vacation Packages offers > See more Finances offers > See more Health & Wellness offers > SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS