Gene McDaniels

Born in Kansas City, Kansas, McDaniels grew up in Omaha, Nebraska. As well as singing gospel music in church, he developed a love of jazz learning to play the saxophone and trumpet. After forming a singing group, the Echoes of Joy, later known as the Sultans, in his teens, he studied at the University of Omaha Conservatory of Music before joining the Mississippi Piney Woods Singers, with whom he toured in California. ==Career==

1960s–1970s In California McDaniels began singing in jazz clubs, achieving recognition with the Les McCann Trio, and came to the attention of Sy Waronker of Liberty Records. After recording two unsuccessful singles and an album, McDaniels teamed with producer Snuff Garrett, with whom he recorded his first hit, "A Hundred Pounds of Clay", which reached number 3 in the Billboard Hot 100 chart in early 1961 and sold over one million copies, earning gold disc status. In 2010 he launched a series of YouTube videos on his website, featuring his music and thoughts on some of his creations. ==Personal life and death==

McDaniels lived as a self-described "hermit" in the state of Maine. McDaniels died peacefully on July 29, 2011, at his home, survived by his third wife and six children. ==Discography==

Albums As Universal Jones Singles As Universal Jones Sideman Produced by Eugene McDaniels • Richard Roundtree, "The Man From Shaft" 1972 • Merry Clayton, Keep Your Eye on the Sparrow 1975 • Gladys Knight & the Pips, 2nd Anniversary 1975 • Melba Moore, Peach Melba 1975 • Gene McDaniels, Natural Juices 1975 • Nancy Wilson, ''This Mother's Daughter'' 1976 • Jimmy Smith, Sit on It 1977 • The Voltage Brothers, "The Voltage Brothers" 1978 • The Floaters, Float Into the Future 1979 • Jennifer Rush "Loving is a Good Thing" 1980 • Phyllis Hyman, "Meet Me on the Moon", 1991 • Carri Coltrane, The First Time 1999 • Carri Coltrane, Flamenco Sketches 1998 • Eugene McDaniels, Screams and Whispers 2004 ==Filmography==

• ''It's Trad, Dad! (a.k.a. Ring-A-Ding Rhythm'', 1962) • The Young Swingers (1963) • Roots (1977 miniseries) (1977) • Devils Minion (2009) ==Video game roles==

• League of Legends – Nasus (voice-actor) ==References==