Francis Clay (November 16, 1923 – January 21, 2008)[1] was an American jazz and blues drummer, best known for his work behind Muddy Waters in the 1950s and 1960s,[2] and as an original member of the James Cotton band.
[1] Clay's jazz-influenced style is cited as an influence by many of the British Invasion rock 'n' rollers of the 1960s such as Charlie Watts[3] and Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones and Faces, respectively.
In his career, Clay claimed to have backed Gypsy Rose Lee,[1] and played with Jay McShann and Charlie Parker early on and with Jimi Hendrix while in New York's Greenwich Village.
[1] Clay made his home in San Francisco in the late 1960s and became a part of the music scene in the Bay Area throughout the rest of his life.
"[citation needed] With John Lee Hooker With Lightnin' Hopkins With Jimmy Rogers With Otis Spann With Muddy Waters