Gary St. Clair is a musician, singer, songwriter and record producer. He was lead singer and songwriter for the groups The Bad Boys (Paula Records) and Flavor (Columbia Records). He followed that with a solo album on Paramount. After retiring as a performer he produced recordings for artists such as All-4-One, Nu Flavor and David Hasselhoff.

Background Gary St. Clair is originally from Washington DC. His songwriting and production work goes back to the early 1960s.Antelope Valley Press, Apr 9, 2021 - St. Clair came to the Antelope Valley in 1991 - Jesse Davidson

During the 1960s, Gary St. Clair was the singer and keyboardist in the band Bad Boys. Their single, "Love" bw "Black Olives" was released on the Paula label.Isthmus, November 27, 2011 - Vinyl Cave: Dollar bin diving with Gary St. Clair, Arif Mardin, Uncle Jim's Music, Gary St. Clair:Gary St. Clair - By Bob KochGlobal Dog Productions - 45 Discography for Paula Records 254 The Bad Boys Later, he sang lead on the Flavor single, "Sally Had a Party".Isthmus, November 27, 2011 - Vinyl Cave: Dollar bin diving with Gary St. Clair, Arif Mardin, Uncle Jim's Music, Gary St. Clair:Gary St. Clair - By Bob Koch

Artists that St. Clair has worked with, or have recorded his compositions include, All-4-One,Antelope Valley Press, Apr 9, 2021 - St. Clair came to the Antelope Valley in 1991 - Jesse Davidson The Chambers Brothers, Roger Troutman, Roy Buchanan,Amazon - A New Time - A New Day, The Chambers Brothers Rena Scott,MusicVF.com - Songs written by Gary St. Clair, Top songs / Chart singles discography, Rena Scott T.I., The Righteous Brothers, Al Wilson, Papa John Creech, Blue Swede, David Hasselhoff

Career as artist 1960s The Bad Boys The Bad Boys was a group that was made up of Gary St. Clair (record producer), Danny Conway and Demetri Callas.Music Metason - ArtistInfo, The Bad Boys, Members The group recorded a single, "Love" bw "Black Olives". Charlie Daniels was arranger for both sides of the record. He also co-produced the recordings with Ray Allen.Music Metason - ArtistInfo, The Bad Boys, Love / Black Olives The musicians that took part in the recording sessions were, Gary St. Clair on organ, Charlie Daniels on bass, Danny Conway on drums, and Demetri Callas on guitar.Chairshot to the Skull, Monday March 2, 2009 - The Bad Boys - Love / Black Olives 45rpm, Demetri Callas said...No Such Thing As Was, Dec 21, 2024 - These are a few of my favorite B-sides - Joe Bonomo, “Black Olives,” The Bad Boys (1966)Zero to 180, October 31, 2024 - Shad O’Shea’s Counterpart Music Publishing Empire = A Chronology (1965-1971), Other Counterpart-Related Releases 1966

Their first single, "Love" bw "Black Olives" released on Paula 254 in 1966.Isthmus, November 27, 2011 - Vinyl Cave: Dollar bin diving with Gary St. Clair, Arif Mardin, Uncle Jim's Music, Gary St. Clair:Gary St. Clair - By Bob KochGlobal Dog Productions - 45 Discography for Paula Records 254 The Bad Boys An ad appeared in the 3 December 1966 issue of Cash Box for Jewel / Paula Records. The three singles listed as the Other Hot Singles were, "Things You Do" by Frank Frost, "The Push" by Billy Joe Young, and "Black Olives" by The Bad Boys.Cash Box, December 3, 1966 - Page 56 Jewel . . . Paula, other Hot Singles The following week, Record World had the record as one of the Sleepers of the Week, referring to it as an organ-paced instrumental that gets down to the nitty gritty and that it should make an impact in the charts.Record World, December 10, 1966 - Page 1 (front cover), ★ SLEEPERS OF THE WEEK The single, which was in the Cash Box Best Bets section was reviewed in the magazine's 17 December issue, with "Black Olives" as the A side. The reviewer called it a "funky frenetic rock outing" and it was likely to do well for the group. The reviewer also said that the flip side "Love" was a strong rock effort and gave it a B+ rating.Cash Box, December 17, 1966 - Page 22 RECORD REVIEWS, BEST BETS, BAD BOYS (Paula 254)

For the week of 17 December, the single was at no. 48 in the Cash Box New to Top 50 in R&B Locations chart, which is a summary of new entries in the Top 50 In R&B Locations chart.Cash Box, December 17, 1966 - Page 12 Cash Box NEW CHART ADDITIONS, NEW TO TOP 50 IN R&B LOCATIONS, 48—BLACK OLIVES, Bad Boys (Paula 254)Cash Box, December 17, 1966 - Page 36 Cash Box TOP 50 IN R&B LOCATIONS The single peaked at no 35 in that chart for the week of 24 December 1966.Cash Box, December 24, 1966 - Page 102 Cash Box TOP 50 IN R&B LOCATIONS, 35 BLACK OLIVES, Bad Boys (Paula 254), 48Cash Box, December 31, 1966 - Page 26 Cash Box TOP 50 IN R&B LOCATIONS, 37 BLACK OLIVES, Bad Boys (Paula 254), 35

The single peaked again at no. 35 in the Top 50 In R&B Locations chart for the week of 7 January 1967.Cash Box, January 7, 1967 - Page 22 Cash Box TOP 50 IN R&B LOCATIONS, 35 BLACK OLIVES, Bad Boys (Paula 254), 37Cash Box, January 14, 1967 - Page 28 Cash Box TOP 50 IN R&B LOCATIONS The single debuted at no. 35 in the Cash Box Looking Ahead chart for the week of 28 January 1967.Cash Box, January 21, 1967 - Page 10 CASH BOX LOOKING AHEADCash Box, January 28, 1967 - Page 3 Cash Box LOOKING AHEAD, 35 BLACK OLIVES, (SuMa, Falls City, Counterpart—BMI), Bad Boys (Paula 254) The single peaked at no. 11 for the week of 25 February.Cash Box, February 18, 1967 - Page 6 Cash Box LOOKING AHEAD, 12 BLACK OLIVES, (SuMa, Falls City, Counterpart—BMI), Bad Boys (Paula 254)Cash Box, February 25, 1967 - Page 8 Cash Box LOOKING AHEAD, 11 BLACK OLIVES, (SuMa, Falls City, Counterpart—BMI), Bad Boys (Paula 254)Cash Box, March 4, 1967 - Page 8 Cash Box LOOKING AHEAD, 13 BLACK OLIVES, (SuMa, Falls City, Counterpart—BMI), Bad Boys (Paula 254) It was still in the Looking Ahead chart for the week of 18 March.Cash Box, March 18, 1967 - Page 8 Cash Box LOOKING AHEAD, 31 BLACK OLIVES, (SuMa, Falls City, Counterpart—BMI), Bad Boys (Paula 254)

Flavor In 1967, The Bad Boys were signed by Clive Davis to Columbia Records and renamed Flavor. Their producer was Tim O'Brien, another Washington DC native.

The group recorded the single, "Sally Had a Party" bw "Shop Around", which was released on Columbia 4-44521.Cash Box, September 7, 1968 - Page 16 Vital Statistics, #74 SALLY HAD A PARTY, Flavor-Columbia 44521 It ended up being a hit, peaking at no. 66 on the Cash Box Top 100 for the week of 24 August. It was still charting for the week of 7 September.Cash Box, August 24, 1968 - Page 4 Cash Box TOP 100 AUGUST 24, 1968, 66 SALLY HAD A PARTY, 72, 81Cash Box, August 31, 1968 - Page 4 Cash Box TOP 100 AUGUST 31, 1968, 82 SALLY HAD A PARTY, 66, 72 It also got to no. 81 on the Record World 100 Top Pops chart for the week of 31 August.Record World, August 31, 1968 - Page 25 100 TOP POPS, Week of August 31, 1968, This Wk. Aug 31 81, Last Wk. Aug 24 76 Wks. on Chart 4Record World, September 7, 1968 - Page 25 100 TOP POPS, Week of September 7, 1968 It also got to no. 95 on the Billboard chart during its five-week run.Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-2006, Joel Whitburn, 2009 - - Page 305 FLAVOR The single also made the Record World Top 50 R&B chart, peaking at no. 28 for the week of 28 January 1967.Record World, January 28, 1967 - Page 30 TOP 50 R&B, 28. BLACK OLIVES, Bad Boys-Paula 254, 32Cash Box, February 4, 1967 - Page 37 TOP 50 R&B, 34. BLACK OLIVES, Bad Boys-Paula 254, 28

As a solo artist In 1970, he was signed to Paramount as a solo artist.

Album St. Clair recorded his self-titled album which was released in 1972. It was reviewed in the 19 February issue of Billboard. The review was positive with the shades of Ray Charles and Leon Russell being noted. The backing vocals were provided by Clydie King and Venetta Fields. With AM and FM exposure, the LP was predicted to get on the Top LP chart.Billboard, February 19, 1972 - Page 33 Album Reviews continued, POP, GARY ST. CLAIR - Paramount PAS 6020 It was reported in the 26 February 1972 issue of Record World that his album was getting FM airplay on KOCY-FM in Oklahoma City and KZEL-FM in Eugene, Oregon.Record World, February 26, 1972 - Page 30 THE FM AIRPLAY REPORT, KOCY-FMIOKLAHOMA CITY; KZEL-FMIEUGENE, ORE. A cut from the album, "Jim Dandy" was added to the play list of KEYN in Wichita for the week of 4 March.Cash Box, March 4, 1972 - Page 28 Additions To Radio Playlists Secondary Markets, KEYN—WICHITA, LP: Jim Dandy——Gary St. Clair—Paramount

Years later, Bob Koch of Isthmus referred to the album as "an excellent example of early '70s soul-influenced rock, sort of a cross of what Joe Cocker and Rod Stewart were up to at the time".Isthmus, November 27, 2011 - Vinyl Cave: Dollar bin diving with Gary St. Clair, Arif Mardin, Uncle Jim's Music, Gary St. Clair:Gary St. Clair - By Bob Koch Single St. Clair's single, "Dr. Rock and Roll" was released on Paramount 0155 in 1972. It was a Record World Single Pick for the week of 1 April 1972. The reviewer said that in addition to having the magic words of rock and roll, it injected that brand of music into its grooves and will never die.Record World, April 1, 1972 - Page 10 RECORD WORLD SINGLE PICKS, GARY ST. CLAIR-Paramount 0155 DR. ROCK AND ROLL (125th Street, ASCAP)

Career as producer, composer etc. 1960s - 1970s A song he wrote with Tim O'Brien, "Satisfy You" was included on the Chambers Brothers' 1968 album, A New Time – A New Day.Amazon - A New Time - A New Day, The Chambers Brothers

St. Clair was the lead vocalist on the Neil Young song, "Down by the River".Session Days - 1978 Roy Buchanan – You’re Not Alone, Other MusiciansSession Days - 1978 Roy Buchanan – You’re Not Alone, Tracks, 5 Down By The River (Neil Young) 08:40 by Roy Buchanan on his You’re Not Alone album that was released in 1978, with backing vocalists, Alfa Anderson, David Lasley, Krystal Davis and Luther Vandross.

1980s - 1990s Gary St. Clair composed the songs "(No Parking in My) Love Zone" and "This Love's for You" for Rena Scott. Both were hits for her in 1988 and 1989, peaking on the Billboard r&b charts at no. 93 and 80 respectively.MusicVF.com - Songs written by Gary St. Clair, Top songs / Chart singles discography, Rena Scott

Working with fellow producers, David Foster and Tim O'Brien, St. Clair co-wrote and produced the 1994 4× Platinum self-titled album, All-4-One. The album peaked at no. 7 for the week of 9 July 1994 during its 28 week run in the Top 50.Music Charts Archive - All-4-One, All-4-One, Chart History, Chart Date 1994-07-09 Position 7, Number of Weeks in Top 50: 28

St. Clair and Tim O'Brien both composed and produced the "(She’s Got) Skillz" single for All-4-One. It was reviewed in the 7 January 1995 issue of Music & Media. The reviewer pointed out that the song was a major departure from the group's major hit, "I Swear", and that the quartet were now jive talking on top of a great drum sound.Music & Media, January 7, 1995 - Page 7 New Releases, SINGLES, ALL-4-ONE, (She's Got) SkiIlz - Blitzz The song was a hit, peaking at no. 57 during its twenty-week run.Music Charts Archive - (She's Got) Skillz, All-4-One, Chart History

Working again with Tim O'Brien, St. Clair produced the And the Music Speaks album for All-4-One. It contained the single, "I Can Love You Like That".Hits, June 19, 1995 - Page 71 All-4-One The album spent fifteen weeks in the US album chart, peaking at no. 27 on 19 August 1995.Music Charts Archive - And The Music Speaks, All-4-One, Chart History

He produced the Nu Flavor "Baby Be There" single. It was reviewed in the 16 May 1989 issue of Billboard. It was positive with the reviewer referring to the sax-driven track as "No "freak" chat here" and "Just a little old-fashioned romance, with a dash of Latin spice".Billboard, May 16, 1998 - Page 24 Reviews & Previews, Singles, Pop, ★ NU FLAVOR Baby Be There (3:48) The single made the charts in the US, getting to no. 83 on the main chart and no. 101 on the r&b chart.MusicVF.com - Nu Flavor songs, Top songs / Chart singles discography, 1998 3 06/1998 Baby Be There