Clay Aiken – Singing With A Friend

On Wednesday night, Clay Aiken attended the My Hero Gala for Aid for Aids.  I wrote all about the event on Wednesdays blog. AIDFORAIDS  . As of late Wednesday night, we only have one picture of the event.  If and when there is more information I will post it.

Co-Chair Guto Bittencourt and Clay Aiken attend the 2015 Aid for AIDS Gala at Cipriani Downtown

On his album, Tried & True, Clay Aiken recorded the beautiful Roy Orbison song, Crying. According to many polls and discussions, many people consider this song one of the best on the album.

Roy Orbison was a popular singer-songwriter and was known for his musicianship and powerful voice.  He was born in Texas in 1936 and sang with a country band throughout high school.

Roy was at the apex of his career in the mid 1960s.  He had a recording contract with Monument Records and 22 of his songs charted on the Billboard Top Forty, including Crying.

Orbison had a singing range of three to four octaves and he sang with great passion.  The musical arrangements were almost always complex and classical in style.

In concert, Orbison seemed almost mysterious.  He always wore black clothing and dark glasses.  He always stood stock-still and by himself on stage.  Orbison said of his motionless performances that his songs did not fit any moving and dancing.  Orbison commented about his stage presence, saying:

I’m not a super personality—on stage or off. I mean, you could put workers like Chubby Checker or Bobby Rydell in second-rate shows and they’d still shine through, but not me. I’d have to be prepared. People come to hear my music, my songs. That’s what I have to give them.

Roy died of a heart attack in December of 1988 after spending a full day with his family.  He was 52 and his death was a shock.  After his death, Roy received many accolades.  On Rolling Stone’s list of The Greatest Artists of All Time, Orbison is placed at #37 and is #13 on their list of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time.  In Billboard Magazine, Orbison was listed as #74 in the Top 600 recording artists.

Have you ever seen Orbison in concert?  It must have been an amazing time.

On October 14, 2010, Clay Aiken performed Crying with Casey Thompson as part of his WTTW – Chicago Benefit concert.  The following video shows not only the great performance by the two of them, but the relaxed friendship that Casey and Clay seem to have.  Enjoy!

 

 

 

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9 thoughts on “Clay Aiken – Singing With A Friend

  1. I love Clay's rendition of this song. His performance with Linda Eder on his "Tried and True" album and his duet with Casey Thompson at concert was truly beautiful! Roy Orbison would be proud!

  2. I saw Roy Orbison in concert 45+ years ago in Belfast, Northern Ireland and he was amazing, I bought most of his albums, no CDs then, I was fortunate enough to win 2 signed albums that night, which I still treasure.

  3. Bravo Clay. I was a the PBS Concert filming and saw Clay sing Crying with Linda Eder and at this performance where he sang it with Casey Thompson. I love the song and found I actually like the blend of Clay's Voice with Casey even better that the CD version.

  4. I LOVE THIS PICTURE OF CLAY/!!!!! I also love the duet with both ladies. Thanks for all your work on this site.

  5. i also love the picture of clay and the duet with both femaile singers thanks so much for all the work you do on this site

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