JOE CLAY

Claiborne Joseph Cheramie was born in Harvey, Lousiana in 1939.
A competent drummer by age 12, Joe learned guitar and bass by his mid-teens. By 17, he was signed to RCA records, and recorded some of the most furious, out-of-control rockabilly blasts ever to remain unreleased!
Out of 11 tracks recorded for RCA, the label only issued two singles. The first, "Sixteen Chicks"/"Ducktail", featured the hypnotic guitar of Link Davis. For his second RCA session, Joe was whisked off to New York where he was matched with an R&B combo fronted by none other than Mickey Baker! The result was his second and final 45, "Cracker Jack"/"Get On The Right Track".
"Get On The Right Track" stands out as compelling evidence that punk rock existed in the 1950's.
Despite RCA's unwillingness to promote the two releases, Joe somehow got booked on the Ed Sullivan Show as support act for Nat King Cole! Slated to perform "Ducktail", Joe spooked the show's producers with his over-the-top style, and ended up performing the relatively sedate Platters cover "Only You" instead. The viewing public just wasn't ready for Joe's proto-psychobilly madness!
Incredibly, despite the fact that Joe Clay was a Rockabilly Demi-God, his career went nowhere, causing him to take on a job as a schoolbus driver.
Joe continued to play New Orleans clubs with no professional aspirations for years in total obscurity.
Fortunately, die-hard European rockabilly fans dragged Joe out of semi-retirement and on to the festival stages where he belongs.

Hear Joe Clay's wild rockabilly sounds on "Did You Mean Jellybean (What You Said Cabbage Head)"