Merry Clayton Honors Sam Cooke’s “Touch The Hem Of His Garment” With Stirring New Rendition

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Today, Merry Clayton — the legendary singer who has made indelible contributions to music by Ray Charles, The Rolling Stones, Carole King and so many more — shares “Touch The Hem Of His Garment,” a stirring version of the timeless Sam Cooke-penned song from her forthcoming album Beautiful Scars out April 9th on Motown Gospel. 

With vocal arrangements by Terry Young, percussion by Paulinho da Costa and saxophone by Gerald Albright, “Touch The Hem Of His Garment” is a joyous track emblematic of Beautiful Scars’ mission: To celebrate God’s grace and find love and joy in the face of hardship and tragedy. “If I can just touch the hem of your garment,” Merry sings, ever faithful in God’s redemptive power, “I know I will be made whole right now.”

Listen to “Touch The Hem Of His Garment” here.

Beautiful Scars is now available for pre-order. Get it here.

Watch and share a trailer for Beautiful Scars here.

The lessons of perseverance and resilience found on Beautiful Scars are hard-fought. In 2014, mere months after the documentary 20 Feet From Stardom in which Merry stars won an Oscar - a tragic car accident hospitalized her for five months. The accident claimed both of her legs and required years of diligent rehabilitation. But Merry found strength in her own voice — which remained as powerful as ever — and, recalling her upbringing in her father’s New Orleans parish, the healing themes of Gospel music.

Co-produced by lifelong friend, Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Lou Adler, and legendary Gospel vocalist, instrumentalist and songwriter Terry Young, Beautiful Scars finds Merry emboldened by His Word, mercy and eternal love — it’s the most heartening and human record she has ever made.

Recorded at Henson Studios (formerly the famed A&M Studios where many of Merry’s most historic sessions took place) in Hollywood, Beautiful Scars features original songs by Terry Young, Coldplay’s Chris Martin and Diane Warren as well as classic covers. Alongside “Touch The Hem Of His Garment,” those include Leon Russell’s “A Song For You,” a reprisal of a track Merry sang on her 1971 album that incorporates a vintage solo recording by her late husband, legendary saxophonist Curtis Amy, who passed away in 2020. Merry concludes the album on a hopeful note with “Ooh Child Medley,” a moving finale featuring vocal accompaniment from her granddaughter Kyliyah.

Merry is ready to grace the world with her talents once again in a project flowing with emotion, triumph and tenacity. A document of resilience, joy, and most importantly faith, Beautiful Scars has Merry back doing what God put her on earth to do: sharing her revelatory voice with the world.