Backing Up Is Hard To Do

What got me thinking about the importance of back up singers was seeing The Pips on that TV car insurance commercial. There was some short-lived variety show I can vaguely recall that also featured The Pips without Gladys Knight, another example of the fact that the backing vocals are just as important as the lead.


Merry Clayton moved from the back to the front when it comes to her vocal parrying with Mick Jagger on "Gimme Shelter" from the Stones' "Let It Bleed ", but she had plenty of practice behind artists like Tom Jones, Joe Cocker and Carole King. No question that, without Clayton's powerful, soaring voice, "Gimme Shelter" would never have become a signature anthem for Mick, Keith et al. Merry Clayton has had a long and successful career, including a stint as a regular on TV's "Cagney and Lacey", but switched musically from rock to gospel.


Bonnie Bramlett actually got her start at age fifteen behind blues greats Albert King and Little Milton, among others, but made back-up history as the first white Ikette, transforming the Ike and Tina Revue. She came into her own with Delaney Bramlett, whom she married in 1967. My first connecion with them was "The Original Delaney and Bonnie " on the Electra label in 1969. The duo was propelled to super stardom after linking up with Eric Clapton and recording - appropriately enough - "On Tour With Eric Clapton" on the Atco label in 1970. This was one of my favorite records of that era, mainly because of its' butt-kicking live performances - the best being - in my opinion- the Little Richard covers as well as their "Tribute to Robert Johnson" -bursting with energy and virtuoso musicianship. Unfortunately,Delaney and Bonnie split in 1972. Although Bonnie Bramlett went on to appear as a character on "Roseanne" and in the Kevin Costner film "The Guardian" (2006) - not to mention appearing with Delaney in the enigmatic "Vanishing Point" (1971) - as well as still touring and recording today, she has never equaled the impact she had on the music business with the Clapton tour.


Native American Rita Coolidge first achieved fame as "The Delta Lady", immortalized by Leon Russell, an offshoot of her dynamic backing vocals behind Leon, Joe Cocker and Eric Clapton. She married Kris Kristofferson in 1973, going on to record several duet albums with Kristofferson which earned them Grammies in 1974 and 1976. Coolidge stayed consistently on the "charts " through the 1970s, hitting the Number Two slot in 1977 with her cover of Jackie Wilson's classic " (Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher" . She returned to her Cherokee roots by helping to found a Native American trio in 1997, called "Walela" or "hummingbird" in Cherokee. Rita Coolidge's most recent album was a foray into jazz called "And So Is Love", released in 2006.


Of course, I don't mean to forget the talents of the Raylettes, the Famous Flames or the Ikettes among many,many others. Just remember when you're watching those back up singers onstage that they're always just a few steps away from the spotlights.