Delecta Clark, known professionally as Dee Clark, was born on 7 November 1938 in Blytheville, Arkansas. A soul singer and songwriter, he moved to Chicago in 1941 and began his musical journey under the influence of his mother, Essie Mae Clark, a gospel singer. His first recording came in 1952 as part of the Hambone Kids. In 1953, he joined the R&B group Goldentones, later known as the Kool Gents, and was discovered by Chicago radio DJ Herb Kent. He embarked on a solo career in 1957. breaking through with "Raindrops" in the spring of 1961. This dramatic ballad reached number two on the pop chart and number three on the R&B charts, selling over one million copies and earning a gold disc. It also achieved international success, topping the charts in New Zealand. His subsequent hits included "Just Keep It Up" and "Hey Little Girl", both of which reached the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1959. In 1975, his disco song "Ride a Wild Horse" became a surprise Top 30 hit on the UK Singles Chart. He continued to perform until his death on 7 December 1990 from a heart attack at the age of 52.
