The New Gospel Keys

Clarence Clay and William Scott were blind black street singers who sang gospels accompanied only by one accordion (played by Clarence Clay). American researcher Pete Welding discovered them and produced a complete album featuring these two preaching musicians, which was recorded in 1961 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and two years later they recorded another studio album, "The New Gospel Keys", produced by Kenneth S. Goldstein & Pete Welding. Clay and Scott (both born in the 1920's) had been singing and playing on the streets of Philadelphia for thirteen years by the time they were noticed by Pete Welding. Clarence was mostly a self-taught accordionist and once he had somewhat mastered it, he began a career as a wandering minstrel. In his travels throughout the state of Virginia he encountered William, likewise blind and a singer. The two men decided to join forces, and traveled together performing sacred songs for their livelihoods until 1947, when Scott moved to Philadelphia, where he had relatives living. Clay joined him the following year, and after that the pair plied their art on the sidewalks of the city's business district. Generally, Clarence, who accompanies the singing on the accordion, sings lead. He will start off the vocal line of each song, and then will be joined by William, who enters with the harmony line.