Sam Clayton

Sam Clayton
Clayton outside the 9:30 Club in Washington, DC
Background information
Genres	Alternative country, Alternative rock, blues, folk
Occupation(s)	Musician Songwriter Record Producer
Instruments	Vocals, Conga drums, percussion
Associated acts	Little Feat, Little Richard, Bonnie Raitt
Website	Little Feat.com

Sam Clayton is an African-American singer and percussionist, primarily focusing on drums, conga and djembe, throughout his musical career. He is best known as a co-founder and member to date as a supporting vocalist and percussionist with the American rock band Little Feat since 1972.

As a young man, he was influenced by R&B music, and gospel music. He is the brother of singer Merry Clayton and the brother-in-law of jazz flautist and saxophonist Curtis Amy.

After seeing Lester Horton and the modern dancers, "Zapata", he was enthralled by the conga player. However, it wasn't until a chance opportunity to sit in with a house band for a song on the congas at a farewell dinner, just as he was laid off from his employment in electro-mechanical engineering drafting, that Clayton was offered the chance to join a band and play. Clayton played for a short time with Little Richard, and says he was inspired by "what Mongo Santamaría was doing with Cal Tjader".

Clayton was introduced to Little Feat, an eclectic band drenched in Southern rhythms, funk, jazz, and rock and roll, by his friend Kenny Gradney with whom he had played behind Delaney & Bonnie, and who was to replace original bassist Roy Estrada. Gradney recommended Clayton to the band as he knew both men needed work following Delaney & Bonnie's split up following their divorce and guitarist Paul Barrere also joined the line-up, thus expanding the band to a sextet.