Joe Clay

Claiborne Joseph Cheramie Clay began performing at that age in a country band, who were offered a spot performing on the local radio station WWEZ. RCA subsidiary Vik Records signed him a few years later, while he was still in his teens; he recorded in New York with guitarists Mickey Baker and Skeeter Best, bassist Leonard Gaskin, and drummers Bobby Donaldson and Joe Marshall. He drove a school bus for 15 years in the New Orleans area. "During 1955 his local reputation enabled him to play the prestigious Louisiana Hayride out of Shreveport where he shared billing with the newly emerging Elvis Presley." The source also mentioned he filled in as a drummer for Presley when he played Pontchartrain Amusement Park in New Orleans, when D.J. Fontana could not make the gig.

In 1956, he appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show,

In 1991, Clay was interviewed and featured in Cat Tales fanzine, appearing on the cover. He talked about his early success, fading into obscurity, then being rediscovered.

In 2008, he appeared in an award-winning Canadian documentary entitled Rockabilly 514, directed by Patricia Chica and Mike Wafer. He spoke about his early beginnings as a rockabilly musician in the 1950s and his fascination for the new generation of rockabilly followers. He is also seen performing live his single, "Sixteen Chicks", among an enthusiastic crowd of young rockabilly fans.

In 2011, Clay in performance at the NOLA House Of Blues, was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall Of Fame.

Clay headlined The Rockers Reunion in the Rivermeade Leisure Centre, Reading, England on January 23, 2016.

Clay died on September 26, 2016, at the age of 78.

Discography Year Title Record label 1956 "Duck Tail" / "Sixteen Chicks" Vik Records 1956 "Get On The Right Track" / "Cracker Jack" Vik Records 1962 "Can’t Get You Out Of My Mind" / "Don’t Know What To Do" Samter Records 1963 "Love You" / "My Heart Loves Only You" Samter Records 1963 "I Get So Blue" / "Little Darlin'" Samter Records N/K "Did You Mean Jelly Beans (When You Said Cabbage Head)" "Doggone It" "Goodbye, Goodbye" "Slipping Out And Sneaking In" "You Look That Good To Me" "Get on the Right Track"