The documentary 20 Feet From Stardom explores the world of rock 'n' roll's backup singers.
The film profiles a number of women whose voices you know but whose names you may not: Lisa Fischer, Darlene Love, Judith Hill, Tata Vega and Merry Clayton.
It's Clayton who sang "Rape, murder" on the Rolling Stones song "Gimme Shelter" as if her life depended on it. In some ways, it did.
"Everybody wanted me to sing with them," Clayton tells Terry Gross. "Everybody wanted me to be on their sessions. ... I became queen diva of the background rock world."
That's no exaggeration. Clayton sang with Ray Charles as one of his Raelettes, as well as with Neil Young, Carole King, Elvis, and The Supremes, to list just a few of her credits.
The Fresh Air interview is HERE
The Best of Merry Clayton
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