Judy Clay
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Judy Clay (12 September 1938 - 19 July 2001) was a part of the Drinkard Singers, as well as a collaborative vocalist.
Born Judy Guions, in St Paul, North Carolina, Lee Drinkard Warrick of the Drinkard Singers 'adopted' her. From the age of 14, she became a regular performer with the 'family' gospel group, originally formed in Savannah, Georgia, around 1938, when Emily Drinkard (today better known as Cissy Houston, and Lee's sister) was only five.
The family group had moved to East Orange, New Jersey. Guions joined them around 1953, at which point the family comprised:
- her adopted mother, Lee
- sometimes (though never on record) Lee's two daughters, Marie Dionne (later just Dionne) and Warrick (later Warwick)
- Delia, also known as 'Dee Dee Warrick' (Warwick)
- regulars Emily/Cissy Drinkard (whose married name at the time was 'Garland')
- Emily's married sisters, Marie Epps and Ann Moss; and
- Emily's brothers, Larry and Nick Drinkard;
who often helped out on piano.
Judy Clay partnered William Bell on the duet "Private Number", recorded in 1968 for Stax Records, and sang with Billy Vera on other recordings, as well as with other members of her extended 'family'.
She died in July, 2001, at the age of 62.
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