Clayton Love

Clayton D. Love Jr. (November 16, 1927 – February 28, 2010) was an American blues pianist, who led his own band, the Shufflers, in the early 1950s. He was later a vocalist in Ike Turner's band, the Kings of Rhythm.

Biography Love was born in Mattson, Mississippi, and grew up in Clarksdale.

After his discharge he studied as a pre-med at Alcorn Agricultural and Mechanical College near Vicksburg.

In the mid-1950s he moved to St. Louis and joined Ike Turner's Kings of Rhythm, singing lead vocals on the tracks "Do You Mean It," "She Made My Blood Run Cold," and "The Big Question," released on Federal Records. He also recorded under his own name for the local Bobbin record label, backed by a band led by bass player Roosevelt Marks. Love later played on his own and for the sharpies, then he went back to college. He received a master's degree from Saint Louis University in 1972, then taught elementary school in the St. Louis public school system. He later became an administrator at Vashon High School.

Love continued to perform during the blues revival scene of the 1980s and early 1990s. In 1986 and 1987, Love toured Europe with former members of the Kings of Rhythm, Jimmy Hinds, Billy Gayles, Erskine Oglesby, Stacy Johnson, Oliver Sain and former Ikette Robbie Montgomery, as part of the St. Louis Kings of Rhythm.

In 1991, he recorded an album, Rockin' Eighty-Eights, with fellow piano players Johnnie Johnson and Jimmy Vaughn.

Love suffered a stroke on Thanksgiving of 2009, followed by a heart attack on Christmas. He died in hospice care on February 28, 2010, after having been ill for some years with arthritis and dementia. He was survived by his wife Joyce Love; son Greyling Love; daughters Cheryl Love, Joann Johnson, Gail Love and Mia Love; sister Mildred Chavers; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Discography

Albums

1980: Come On Home Blues: From The Carousel Club St. Louis Missouri (Red Lightnin') 1991: Rockin' Eighty-Eights (Modern Blues Recordings)

Singles

1951: "Shufflin' With Love" / "Susie" (Trumpet 138) – Clayton Love and his Shufflers 1952: "Chained to Your Love" / "Where I Want to Be" (Aladdin 3148) – Clayton Love with Ray Hill and his Orchestra 1954: "Wicked Little Baby" / "Why Don't You Believe In Me" (Modern 929) – Clayton Love 1956: "Bye Bye Baby" / "Mary Lou" (Groove 0162) – Clayton Love Orchestra 1957: "Do You Mean It" / "She Made My Blood Run Cold" (Federal 12297) – Ike Turner and his Kings of Rhythm 1957: The Big Question" (Federal 12304) – Ike Turner and his Kings of Rhythm 1957: "You've Changed My Love" (Federal 12307) – Ike Turner and his Kings of Rhythm 1958: "Limited Love" / "Unlimited Love" (Bobbin 102) – Roosevelt Marks Orchestra With Clayton Love 1959: "Bye Bye, Baby" / "Mistreated" (Bobbin 108) – Roosevelt Marks Orchestra With Clayton Love