Dee Clark (November 7, 1938 – December 7, 1990) was an American rhythm & bl… Read Full Bio ↴Dee Clark (November 7, 1938 – December 7, 1990) was an American rhythm & blues and soul singer best known for a string of R&B and pop hits in the late 1950s and early 1960s, including the ballad "Raindrops," which became a million-seller in the United States in 1961.
He was born Delecta Clark in Blytheville, Arkansas, and moved to Chicago in 1941. His mother, Essie Mae Clark, was a gospel singer and encouraged her son to pursue his love of music. Clark made his first recording in 1952 as a member of the Hambone Kids, who enjoyed some success with a recording of "Hambone" on the OKeh label. In 1953, he joined an R&B group called the Goldentones, who later became the Kool Gents and were discovered by Chicago radio DJ Herb Kent upon winning a talent competition. Kent had the Kool Gents signed to Vee-Jay label's subsidiary Falcon/Abner. The group recorded for Falcon/Abner in 1956, and also recorded a novelty record as "The Delegates".
Clark embarked on a solo career in 1957, initially following the styles of Clyde McPhatter and Little Richard. When Little Richard temporarily abandoned his music career to study the Bible, Clark fulfilled Richard's remaining live dates and also recorded with his backing band, the Upsetters. Over the next four years he landed several moderate hits, two of which ("Just Keep It Up" and "Hey Little Girl") reached the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100). His records for Abner and Vee-Jay were orchestrated by Riley Hampton. His biggest single, "Raindrops," a power ballad augmented by heavy rain and thunder sound effects and Clark's swooping falsetto, was released in the spring of 1961 and became his biggest hit, soaring to number two on the pop chart and number three on the R&B charts. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. "Raindrops" was also an international success, reaching number one in New Zealand and reaching the top ten in South Africa and Belgium, and selling well in Japan. "Raindrops" remains a staple on oldies and adult standards radio station playlists to this day, and has also been covered by several other artists in the years since, including David Cassidy, Tony Orlando and Dawn, and most notably Narvel Felts, who took the song to number 30 on the country chart in 1974. Clark himself recorded an updated version of "Raindrops" in 1973.
However, Clark's biggest hit was also his last. The follow-up to "Raindrops," "Don't Walk Away From Me," was a flop, and he made the pop charts in America only twice more, with "I'm Going Back to School" (1962) and "Crossfire Time" (1963). By the time "Crossfire Time" came out, Clark had moved from Vee-Jay to the Constellation label. Though he continued to record for Constellation through 1966, none of his records charted nationally. He had considerable local success in Chicago with such standout recordings as "Come Closer" (1964), the double-sided hit of "Warm Summer Breezes" and "Heartbreak" (1964), and "TCB" (1965). He later recorded for the Columbia, Wand, Liberty and Rocky labels, without success. Clark had a brief revival in 1975 when his song "Ride a Wild Horse" became a surprise Top 30 hit in the UK Singles Chart, becoming his first chart hit in the UK since "Just Keep It Up."
Afterwards, Clark performed mostly on the oldies circuit. By the late 1980s, he was in dire straits financially, living in a welfare hotel in Toccoa, Georgia. Despite suffering a stroke in 1987 that left him partially paralyzed and with a mild speech impediment, he continued to perform until his death on December 7, 1990, in Smyrna, Georgia, from a heart attack at the age of 52. His last concert was with the Jimmy Gilstrap Band at the Portman Lounge in Anderson, South Carolina.
He was born Delecta Clark in Blytheville, Arkansas, and moved to Chicago in 1941. His mother, Essie Mae Clark, was a gospel singer and encouraged her son to pursue his love of music. Clark made his first recording in 1952 as a member of the Hambone Kids, who enjoyed some success with a recording of "Hambone" on the OKeh label. In 1953, he joined an R&B group called the Goldentones, who later became the Kool Gents and were discovered by Chicago radio DJ Herb Kent upon winning a talent competition. Kent had the Kool Gents signed to Vee-Jay label's subsidiary Falcon/Abner. The group recorded for Falcon/Abner in 1956, and also recorded a novelty record as "The Delegates".
Clark embarked on a solo career in 1957, initially following the styles of Clyde McPhatter and Little Richard. When Little Richard temporarily abandoned his music career to study the Bible, Clark fulfilled Richard's remaining live dates and also recorded with his backing band, the Upsetters. Over the next four years he landed several moderate hits, two of which ("Just Keep It Up" and "Hey Little Girl") reached the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100). His records for Abner and Vee-Jay were orchestrated by Riley Hampton. His biggest single, "Raindrops," a power ballad augmented by heavy rain and thunder sound effects and Clark's swooping falsetto, was released in the spring of 1961 and became his biggest hit, soaring to number two on the pop chart and number three on the R&B charts. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. "Raindrops" was also an international success, reaching number one in New Zealand and reaching the top ten in South Africa and Belgium, and selling well in Japan. "Raindrops" remains a staple on oldies and adult standards radio station playlists to this day, and has also been covered by several other artists in the years since, including David Cassidy, Tony Orlando and Dawn, and most notably Narvel Felts, who took the song to number 30 on the country chart in 1974. Clark himself recorded an updated version of "Raindrops" in 1973.
However, Clark's biggest hit was also his last. The follow-up to "Raindrops," "Don't Walk Away From Me," was a flop, and he made the pop charts in America only twice more, with "I'm Going Back to School" (1962) and "Crossfire Time" (1963). By the time "Crossfire Time" came out, Clark had moved from Vee-Jay to the Constellation label. Though he continued to record for Constellation through 1966, none of his records charted nationally. He had considerable local success in Chicago with such standout recordings as "Come Closer" (1964), the double-sided hit of "Warm Summer Breezes" and "Heartbreak" (1964), and "TCB" (1965). He later recorded for the Columbia, Wand, Liberty and Rocky labels, without success. Clark had a brief revival in 1975 when his song "Ride a Wild Horse" became a surprise Top 30 hit in the UK Singles Chart, becoming his first chart hit in the UK since "Just Keep It Up."
Afterwards, Clark performed mostly on the oldies circuit. By the late 1980s, he was in dire straits financially, living in a welfare hotel in Toccoa, Georgia. Despite suffering a stroke in 1987 that left him partially paralyzed and with a mild speech impediment, he continued to perform until his death on December 7, 1990, in Smyrna, Georgia, from a heart attack at the age of 52. His last concert was with the Jimmy Gilstrap Band at the Portman Lounge in Anderson, South Carolina.
Warm Summer Breezes
Dee Clark Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Dee Clark:
A Foggy Day I was a stranger in the city Out of town were…
At My Front Door Knock, knock, knock, knock Knock, knock, knock, knock Cr…
Blues Get Off My Shoulder There's a cold, cold feelin' 'round my heart Tries to get…
Blues Get Off of My Shoulder There's a cold, cold feelin' 'round my heart Tries to get…
Crossfire Time (Crossfire) Put your hands on your hips Now move your finge…
Dance on Little Girl Hey, little girl in the high school sweater Gee, but I'd…
Duke of Earl Duke, Duke, Duke, Duke of Earl Duke, Duke, Duke of Earl Duke…
Hey Little Girl Hey, little girl in the high school sweater Gee, but I'd…
How About That I've got a feeling How about that? It's got me reeling How a…
In My Apartment Det är det enda ni gör på dagarna, Ni sitter vid…
Just Keep It Well, one day baby,you'll be sorry For the way you make…
Nobody But Me Hey little girl, in the high school sweater Gee but I'd…
Nobody but You Hey little girl, in the high school sweater Gee but I'd…
Oh Little Girl Hey little girl, in the high school sweater Gee but I'd…
Oh! Little Girl Hey, little girl in the high school sweater Gee, but I'd…
One Girl One Boy I'm a soldier boy Remembering his love I promised her that I…
Rain Drops The raindrops, so many raindrops It feels like rai-ain drop…
Raindrop Oh, raindrops So many raindrops It feels like raindrops Fal…
Ride a Wild Horse Ride a wild horse Saddle up, get down to the source If…
that I've got a pretty little girl living down the street She's…
Whisperin' Grass You promised me, green grass, not to tell what you…
You're Looking Good Little girl, where did you come from? A-don't you know Th…
You're No Good Little girl, where did you come from? A-don't you know That…
You're Telling Our Secrets How can you be so cruel To someone With a broken heart? …
Your Friends Your friends All of your friends (your friends) All of…
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Easy Money
Wow this is my great uncle lol everytime I look for his music it's like someone puts up something new from him, he really had his hands all over the industry. I wish I had got to meet him
Djinn Djinnie
Excellent song, excellent production, simple and serene.
Paul Riofski
This is gorgeous, Soulhawk! I wondered why I had never heard it before, then I found it was the B-side of "Heartbreak," which peaked at #43 on the US R&B charts (but alas, only made it to #119 on the Hot 100) in August of 1964.
alphonso ROLANDO
Superbe VOIX tout comme Gene Chandler, Major Lance, Jerry Butler, Billy Butler, The Impressions et tant d'autres !!!!
Mr.M00n
Dope
ALAIN DEWAELE
thank Soulhawk
annabelleshaus
Is this the only copy you have? Rather low quality.
Vrinda Kanchan
@annabelleshaus Stop complaining.
DI-LUNG JR
annabelleshaus always suprised to actually see someone who also knows what they’re talking about, good shit
DI-LUNG JR
annabelleshaus oh yea ur a 100% correct, in the end it just matters on what u prefer