The career of singer Don Covay spanned virtually the entirety of the R&B spectrum, from the electrifying rock & roll of his earliest records to the gritty, swaggering deep soul of his most enduring efforts—the scope and diversity of his catalog no doubt contributed to his failure to enjoy consistent commercial success, however, and the general public is probably better acquainted with his songs than with his own renditions of them. His debut single, “Mercy Mercy” (accompanied by a young Jimi Hendrix on guitar), established his earthy bluesy style. Atlantic bought his contract, and several R&B & Pop hits followed. Don Covay’s songs still remain successful: Aretha Franklin won a Grammy for her performance of his composition “Chain of Fools”. He is a legendary composer and singer, best known for his R&B classic compositions “Mercy Mercy”, “Chain of Fools”, “See Saw” and “Sookie Sookie”. Covay had success as a singer as Don Covay and The Goodtimers, and his compositions have been recorded by such varied artists as Steppenwolf, Bobby Womack, The Rolling Stones, Wilson Pickett, The Small Faces, and many more.
Click to hear Don’s great take on HITCHIN’ A RIDE
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