HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Doctor Clayton

Born Peter Joe Clayton in Georgia on 19 April 1898, blues singer, Doctor Clayton, was raised in St. Louis. Wikipedia has him working in a factory, the father of four children, when he began singing. He could also use a piano and ukulele. Clayton would become a popular nightclub performer in Chicago for most of his brief career, working alongside such as Robert Lockwood and Sunnyland Slim.

It's rumored that Peter is also the Jesse Clayton who recorded 'Station House Blues' / 'Neckbone Blues' in Chicago on September 9, 1930 (Vocalion 1598). Stefan Wirz enters it into his sessionography at American Music with unknown guitar and piano. It does sound a lot like Clayton, though no documentation that makes a direct connection is known.

'Neckbone Blues' Jesse Clayton poss the same as Doctor Clayton

9 Sep 1930 in Chicago Matrix C6081 Vocalion 1598

Piano: Georgia Tom Dorsey Guitar: poss Tampa Red Vocal: Clayton

Composition: Clayton

Clayton put down his initial tracks more certainly on July 27, 1935, also in Chicago, as Peter J. Clayton: 'Peter's Blues', 'Yo Yo Jive', et al. He experienced the disappearance of his family in a house fire in 1937. He held several sessions in July and August of 1941 as Peter Cleighton: ''41 Blues' / 'Love Is Gone' (OKeh 06375), et al.

'Yo Yo Jive' Peter Clayton who is Doctor Clayton

27 July 1935 in Chicago Matrix 91413 Bluebird B-6096

Piano: Beatrice "Toots" Willis Vocal: Clayton

Composition: Clayton

'Black Snake Blues' Peter Cleighton who is Doctor Clayton

1 July 1941 in Chicago Matrix C-3897-1 Unissued

Piano: Blind John Davis Guitar: Robert Lockwood Vocal: Clayton

Composition: Clayton

Peter recorded his debut tracks as Doctor Clayton on November 11, 1941: 'Doctor Clayton Blues' / 'Gotta Find My Baby' (Bluebird B8901) and 'Watch Out Mama' / 'Cheating and Lying Blues' (Bluebird B8938). Alfred Elkins plays an "imitation bass" on those. This might refer to a homemade washtub bass or bass imitated by guitar or voice. Per 'Root Doctor Blues' below, root doctors are usually associated with hoodoo, but Clayton is singing about another kind of medicine and other sort of root.