Don Covay

Don Covay
Birth nameDonald James Randolph
Born(1936-03-24)March 24, 1936
Orangeburg, South Carolina, U.S.
DiedJanuary 31, 2015(2015-01-31) (aged 78)
Franklin Square, New York, U.S.
GenresR&B, rock and roll, soul, blues
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
LabelsRed Robin, Pilgrim, Atlantic, Sue, Big Top, Arnold, Columbia, Cameo-Parkway, Rosemart, Mercury, Philadelphia International, Newman

Donald James Randolph (March 24, 1936 – January 31, 2015),[1] better known by the stage name Don Covay, was an American R&B, rock and roll, and soul singer-songwriter most active from the 1950s to the 1970s.

His most successful recordings include "Mercy, Mercy" (1964), "See-Saw" (1965), and "It's Better to Have (and Don't Need)" (1974). He also wrote "Pony Time", a US number 1 hit for Chubby Checker, and "Chain of Fools", a Grammy-winning song for Aretha Franklin. He received a Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in 1994.

Writing in the Washington Post after his death, Terence McArdle said, "Mr. Covay’s career traversed nearly the entire spectrum of rhythm-and-blues music, from doo-wop to funk."[2]

  1. ^ Bruce Weber (February 6, 2015). "Don Covay, Performer and Writer of R&B Hits, Dies at 78". The New York Times. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference post was invoked but never defined (see the help page).