Shelly Clark | |
|---|---|
 Clark in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 2016 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | July 27, 1947 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | R&B, soul, pop, calypso |
| Occupation(s) |
|
| Instrument(s) | Vocals |
| Years active | 1953–present |
| Labels | Columbia, Hot Wax Invictus |
Shelly Clark (born July 27, 1947) is an American singer, dancer and actress, best known as a founding member of the 1970s R&B girls group, Honey Cone who had the No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hit single, "Want Ads" released in March 1971. [1]
Shelly was born Mashelle Clark in Brooklyn, New York on July 27, 1947. Her mother Lilly Gainen-Clark a Russian Jew was a concert pianist. Her father Edward Evans Clark from Barbados was a self taught dancer singer and entertainer. Clark had an older brother Ilya Clark who was born in 1945. The family moved from Brooklyn to Los Angeles, California in 1957. [2]
Clark began her career as a dancer, singer and actress at age 6. At age 7 she and her brother were cast in the hit Broadway musical House of Flowers which starred Pearl Bailey and Diahann Carroll. [3] The musical ran every night for 8 months.
Clark and her brother were known as The Clark Kids. Their father became their dance trainer and manager. In 1957, The Clark Kids were signed to Columbia Records as Elia and Michele Clark. They recorded an album entitled Calypso Songs For Children. [4] [5]
In 1957, 9-year-old Clark was cast as part of the Cotton Club Revue of 1957. In the revue, she sang the song "Evalina" and shared the stage with Cab Calloway. Clark was the youngest performer in the cast and the youngest to perform at Palace Theatre and The Apollo in New York. The Cotton Club Revue was a 7-month national tour. [6]
While attending the University of Southern California on a scholarship for talented singers, Clark worked as a session vocalist to make some extra money. During this time Clark was asked to audition for the Ike & Tina Turner Revue in 1966. The audition took place at her home and she was hired on the spot to be an Ikette. Although, Clark never recorded as an Ikette, she did perform with the Revue until a near fatal bus crash in Wichita, Kansas. [7] [8] While Clark was recuperating, new Ikettes were hired and the tour continued without her. [9] After recuperating, Clark was hired as lead dancer to tour with the Little Richard Revue. She also recorded and toured with various artist, including Dusty Springfield on her Canadian tour, and with Bill Medley in Las Vegas. [2]
Clark was a featured singer on the recording "MacArthur Park" by Richard Harris. She also performed with Tom Jones. [2]
In 1968, Clark met singer Carolyn Willis through long-time industry veteran Sherlie Mae Matthews. The trio formed a girl's group called The Cover Girls and performed in local clubs and theaters.
Singer Edna Wright asked Clark and Willis to appear with her on The Andy Williams Show in 1968. In addition, Wright asked Eddie Holland of the newly formed Invictus Records and formerly of Motown Records to watch the show. Holland was so impressed that he convinced the girls to start a group. He gave the trio the name Honey Cone with Wright as lead singer. [2]
During a break from recording with Honey Cone in Detroit, the group went back to Los Angeles and Clark was hired as a regular on the TV show The Jim Nabors Hour .
In May 1969, Honey Cone's debut single "While You're Out Looking for Sugar" was released on Hot Wax Records. It spent 8 weeks on Billboard's R&B chart and peaked at No. 26 on August 16, 1969. The follow-up "Girls, It Ain't Easy" was released in September 1969, and peaked at No. 8 on November 16, 1969, on the R&B chart after appearing for 9 weeks. [10]
In 1971, Clark had to abruptly leave The Jim Nabors Hour when the Honey Cone's single "Want Ads" climbed the charts, knocking The Rolling Stones' "Brown Sugar" out of the No. 1 spot. "Want Ads" proved to be their biggest success, spending 14 weeks on the charts and topping the R&B and Pop charts, and selling over one million copies. It was certified gold by the R.I.A.A. in May 1971. [11] "Stick-Up," which also sold more than one million units, [11] was another No. 1 R&B hit and No. 11 Pop. Honey Cone had further chart success with "One Monkey Don't Stop No Show" (No. 15 Pop, No. 5 R&B) and "The Day I Found Myself" (No. 23 Pop, No. 8 R&B). [12] [13]
Clark along with Wright and Willis appeared on the September 2, 1971 cover of Jet Magazine. [14]
By 1973, Honey Cone had 4 top 40 Billboard Hot 100 hits and 9 top 40 Billboard R&B hits, but the group disbanded that year, starting with Willis who was dissatisfied with the lack of control over her career. Soon after, Hot Wax Records folded.
In 1973, Mary Wilson of The Supremes asked Clark to join the group following the departures of Jean Terrell and Lynda Laurence. Clark declined citing she "didn't want to do the group thing again." Wilson ended up hiring Clark's label mate Scherrie Payne of the Glass House. [15]
In 1978, Clark was a regular on the disco television show, Hot City, as a singer, dancer and occasional host. [16]
In 1990, the trio attempted a reunion with all three original members, however, that fell apart due to creative differences. .
In 2014, Clark and Wright along with Melodye Perry (Wright's daughter) reunited to perform on the Soul Train Cruise. [17]
On September 18, 2016, Clark and Wright were honored with the 2016 National Rhythm and Blues Music Society Unsung Heroine Award at their Black Tie Gala, Dinner & Awards Ceremony at the Double Tree by Hilton in Philadelphia, PA. Willis, who wasn't in attendance received an award as well. [18]
On September 24, 2017, Clark along with Wright were honored with the Heroes and Legends Award (HAL) in Music as Honey Cone at The Beverly Hill Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA. [19]
On September 12, 2020, Clark's band-mate and friend Edna Wright died at Encino Medical Hospital due to chronic pulmonary issues and suffered a heart attack. [20]
On 8, January 2021, Honey Cone was inducted into the Soul Music Hall Of Fame Class of 2020. [21]
Mayor John Hamilton proclaimed February 1, 2021, Verdine White and Shelly Clark day in Bloomington, Indiana. [22]
Clark married Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Verdine White, founding member and bassist of Earth, Wind & Fire, in their Bel Air, California, home on December 31, 1980. They have a son and granddaughter.
Ike & Tina Turner were an American musical duo consisting of husband and wife Ike Turner and Tina Turner. From 1960 to 1976, they performed live as the Ike & Tina Turner Revue, supported by Ike Turner's band the Kings of Rhythm and backing vocalists called the Ikettes. The Ike & Tina Turner Revue was regarded as "one of the most potent live acts on the R&B circuit."
Scherrie Ann Payne is an American singer. Payne is best known as a member and the final lead singer of the R&B/Soul vocal group the Supremes from 1973 until 1977. Payne is the younger sister of singer Freda Payne. Payne continues to perform, both as a solo act and as a part of the "Former Ladies of the Supremes" (FLOS).
Hot Wax Records was a Detroit, Michigan-based record label, created by producers/songwriters Holland–Dozier–Holland in 1968 when they left Motown.
Honey Cone was an American R&B and soul girl group formed by lead singer Edna Wright with Carolyn Willis and Shelly Clark in 1968. They are known for their number-one Billboard Hot 100 single, "Want Ads". Honey Cone were the premier female group for Hot Wax Records, operated by Holland–Dozier–Holland after they had departed from Motown Records.
"Want Ads" is a song that was a million-selling No.1 pop and R&B hit recorded by female group, Honey Cone for their second album Sweet Replies and also appears on their third album Soulful Tapestry. The song, recorded on the Detroit-based Hot Wax label, was written by Greg Perry, General Norman Johnson and Barney Perkins. It was produced by staff producer, Greg Perry, and features a young Ray Parker Jr. ("Ghostbusters") on rhythm guitar.
The Ikettes, originally The Artettes, were a trio of female backing vocalists for the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. Despite their origins, the Ikettes became successful artists in their own right. In the 1960s they had hits such as "I'm Blue " and "Peaches 'N' Cream". In 2017, Billboard ranked "I'm Blue " No. 63 on its list of 100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time.
Love, Peace & Soul is the fourth and final studio album by American R&B/Soul/Funk Girl group the Honey Cone. It was released by Hot Wax/Invictus Records in 1972.
The Soul of Ike & Tina Turner is the debut album by Ike & Tina Turner. It was released on the Sue Records in February 1961. The album is noted for containing the duo's debut single "A Fool in Love" and their follow-up singles "I Idolize You" and "I'm Jealous."
The Girlfriends were an American girl group from Los Angeles who scored one hit in the United States in 1964, "My One and Only Jimmy Boy".
Josephine Armstead, also known as "Joshie" Jo Armstead, is an American soul singer and songwriter. Armstead began her career singing backing vocals for blues musician Bobby "Blue" Bland before becoming an Ikette in the Ike & Tina Turner Revue in the early 1960s. She also had some success as a solo singer, her biggest hit being "A Stone Good Lover" in 1968. As a songwriter, Armstead teamed up with Ashford & Simpson. The trio wrote hits for various artists, including Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Tina Britt, Ronnie Milsap, and Syl Johnson. In the 1970s, Armstead appeared in the Broadway musicals Don't Play Us Cheap and Seesaw.
Robbie Montgomery is an American singer and restaurateur. She is noted for being one of the original Ikettes in the Ike & Tina Turner Revue in the 1960s. After her tenure as an Ikette, she was a member of the Mirettes, and then became a "Night Tripper" for Dr. John. In the 1970s, Montgomery was a backing vocalist for acts such as Stevie Wonder, Barbra Streisand, the Rolling Stones, and Joe Cocker. She later created the Sweetie Pie's franchise, and starred in the award-winning reality series Welcome to Sweetie Pie's.
Greg Perry was a singer, songwriter and record producer. He worked with artists such as Freda Payne. He wrote and produced many hits for soul artists in the 1970s. He was also the brother of singer Jeff Perry and was married to Edna Wright, who sang in the group Honey Cone.
Soul The Hits is the debut album by American girl group the Ikettes, released on Modern Records in 1966.
Esther Jones was an American soul singer and choreographer, best known as the "longest-lasting Ikette" in the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. In the 1980s, she was the lead vocalist in the band Formula 5.
The Mirettes were a female vocal trio composed of former members of the Ikettes in the Ike & Tina Turner Revue.
Jessie Smith was an American R&B vocalist. She began her career singing with musician Benny Sharp, recording as Little Miss Jessie, and became best known as one of the original Ikettes in the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. She later sang backing vocals for various artists, including Dr. John, Paul Williams, Al Kooper, José Feliciano, and Leon Ware.
"Peaches 'N' Cream" is a song written by Steve Venet and Tommy Boyce, originally released by The Ikettes on Modern Records in 1965. It became the first Billboard Top 40 single for The Ikettes since their debut "I'm Blue " in 1961.
Edna Woods, also known as LeJeune Richardson, is an American singer, dancer and actress. She was an Ikette in the Ike & Tina Turner Revue in the 1960s and 1970s, and later a dancer for Tina Turner in the 1980s and 1990s. Richardson was a backing vocalist for Gayle McCormick and John Mayall. She was also a member of the vocal group Silver, Platinum & Gold.
Edna Wright was an American singer, best known as the lead singer of Honey Cone, the girl group that went to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with the song "Want Ads" in 1971. She was the younger sister of singer Darlene Love. Wright sang backup for various artists, including the Righteous Brothers, Ray Charles, and Cher.