Doctor Clayton

Doctor Clayton (actually Peter Joe Clayton, born April 19, 1898 in Georgia; † January 7, 1947 in Chicago, Illinois) was an American blues singer and songwriter.

Clayton is probably born in 1898 in Georgia, although he himself claimed to have come with his parents from Africa. In St. Louis, Clayton married and had four children. In 1937 his entire family in a fire killed. Then he fell to the alcohol and led an unsettled life. With Robert Lockwood, he went to Chicago to make music there.

The first recordings of Doctor Clayton originate from the year 1935. He entered only as a singer and wrote successful songs. Among his most popular pieces are 41 Blues, Blues Pearl Harbor, Cheating And Lying Blues, Hold That Train Conductor, Gotta Find My Baby, Root Doctor, Angels in Harlem, On The Killing Floor and I Need My Baby. Some of the pieces were later Claytons of BB King re-recorded.

Doctor Clayton died in 1947 from the effects of pneumonia. Big Bill Broonzy reported that only 10 people were present at the funeral, including himself and Tampa Red

Discography

• Doctor Clayton: Complete Recorded Works 1935-42 (1994, Document DOCD - 5179)
• Doctor Clayton & His Buddies: Complete Recorded Works - 1946-47 (1994, Old Tramp OTCD -005)