“I’ve been through fire, rain, a storm, a hurricane, and everything else. ![]() “If I can make it through this journey, anybody can,” she said. But not Clayton, a New Orleans native who grew up singing gospel music in church and has retained her deep faith throughout her career. Such a devastating experience would likely have ended the careers of many musicians. Her injuries were so severe that both her legs had to be amputated at the knees, followed by five months of hospitalization and years of grueling daily physical therapy. Ten songs strong, “Beautiful Scars” is Clayton’s first solo outing since she was in a horrific 2014 car crash in Los Angeles. Born out of tragedy, it marks the start of an inspirational new chapter for the versatile singer, who has collaborated with everyone from Bob Dylan, Michael Jackson and Coldplay to Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder and Lynyrd Skynyrd (that’s her singing on the choruses of “Sweet Home Alabama”). ![]() Now, at the age of 73, Clayton - who co-starred in the 2014 Oscar-winning music documentary “20 Feet From Stardom” - is back with “Beautiful Scars,” her first solo album since 1994. ![]() Vocal dynamo Merry Clayton was just 16 when she became the lead female singer in the Ray Charles Orchestra and 20 when she famously duetted with Mick Jagger on the Rolling Stones’ classic “Gimme Shelter.” She was 21 when she sang on Neil Young’s equally classic “Southern Man” and on much of Carole King’s landmark album, “Tapestry.”
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