Honey Cone - Here Comes the Rain Again - Single Art

Published on December 4th, 2024 | by Jimmy Star

Shelly Clark: “Here Comes the Rain Again” the First Honey Cone First Release in 50 Years

Music Royalty Shelly Clark along with fellow members Kathy Merrick & Wendy Smith-Bruné of the Billboard topping group and members of the Soul Music Hall of Fame Honey Cone has released their first song in 50 years “Here Comes the Rain Again”, written by Annie Lennox and David Stewart (The Eurythmics). The song is a gift from the Honey Cone to their loyal fans as well as an introduction to a whole new generation.

The Honey Cone was spawned in 1968 by lead singer the late Edna Wright, (sister of Darlene Love), Carolyn Willis and former Ikette Shelly Clark. The faction is best known for their monster hit “Want Ads.” In 2014 Shelly Clark along with Kathy Merrick and Wendy Smith-Bruné re-established the iconic group whose recent success included sold out performances in LA and New York.

Co-founder of the faction Shelly Clark has had an exalting career since the age of 6, performing on Broadway “House of Flowers” with Pearl Bailey and Diahann Carroll. She and her brother were signed later to Columbia Records and at age 9 she was cast as part of the Cotton Club review with Cab Calloway. She later became an Ikette and toured with Ike and Tina Turner. She also danced for the Little Richard Revue and recorded with Dusty Springfield and Bill Medley. After becoming a regular on the Jim Nabor’s Hour, the Honey Cone’s song “Want Ads” became number 1 on the charts and by 1973 The group has 4 top 40 hits. She is currently about to celebrate 44 years of marriage to Verdine White, bassist of Earth, Wind & Fire.

In the words of Clark “we are excited to release the first song in 50 years. We hope the audience takes away a true European flavor, as it’s a Eurythmics cover, but can also feel the Honey Cone vibration on top. We are known for our dynamic harmonies, and it’s a thrill to continue making timeless music.”

Honey Cone: Shelly Clark Kathy Merrick & Wendy Smith-Bruné – Courtesy of Honey Cone

So, first of all, I love that song “Here Comes The Rain Again”. I have always loved that song. I loved it when the Eurythmics did it.

Wow, because I thought our producer had lost his mind when he asked us to do it.

That was my first question. Why did you decide to do it?

He said when I think of the Honey Cone, I think Global. I think International. I have a song that I think is going to be great for you but it’s not the normal of what you all have done in the past. So, I’m hoping that you accept my idea. And I said well, is there any other song that you’re thinking about? He said no. This is the song that keeps playing over and over. And he is a seven-time Grammy winner. We didn’t want to argue with him. He’s got a good ear. He’s up for his 8th Grammy whenever the Grammys come up this year. I am pretty sure he’s going to have eight under his belt.

I saw the Youtube video. It’s beautiful. It really is.

It turned out nice. Actually, our husbands produced it with him. You know my husband is Earth Wind and Fire and so is Kathy’s. Her husband is the drummer and my husband is the co-founder and bassist.

I actually interviewed your husband a while ago.

Oh really?

It was a while ago. I don’t remember. But he was on my partners show The Jimmy Star Show with Ron Russell.

Oh Jimmy Star. Did they do baby grand or granddaughter?

Yes, and they would like to do you on December 11th.

I love it. Tell them absolutely.

Okay good. December 11th at 1:10 PM PT. And I will hook you up with Jimmy after this phone call. I also interviewed Annie Lennox.

You know what when I posted it she put a like on it. So, I know we got her approval.

Well, the song is amazing and my next question is how did you find Kathy and Wendy?

That is something in itself. I was looking to recreate the group as we had lost our lead singer Edna Wright. And Carolyn Willis retired. The chemistry of that core was gone. Even though Edna tried to put the group back together with her daughter and some other singers that she found. Even with me. I did the Soul Train Cruise with them in 2014. But moving forward I figured that I had to have some wonderful girls who were young enough and pretty enough and could sing their butts off. So I prayed. And Verdine reminded me that the drummer had a wife that was touring with the Sounds of the Supremes. They came back and I gave Verdine a dinner party for his birthday. And I made sure John and Kathy were on the list because I had every intention of approaching her that night. And I did.

I sat down by her and I said Kathy I have this wild idea. What do you think about recreating The Honey Cone? She said oh my God that’s fabulous! And I said well, there’s a catch, you have to find me a third girl. And she did. It happened to be a bandmate of hers throughout life. They would switch off one would leave a job and ask the other to replace them. So, she found Wendy and contacted her. Wendy happened to be the only black woman to ever tour with the legendary Glenn Miller Orchestra. So, both of these girls have a wonderful history. And Wendy said she would love to meet and talk about it. So, when she came back from her tour we got together at the King’s Cafe right there on Melrose. We sat down and we started talking and do you know that one person passed by and said you girls are gorgeous are you a singing group?

I love it. That had to be a sign.

Like The Blues Brothers it was a sign from God. So anyway, we got together and started singing. We saw we had a good blend. And the rest is sort of history. I had a girlfriend that was a big CEO of a company back then. And she started booking us. Those were our first corporate dates. On cruises, we performed for Magic Johnson in hotel settings. People started seeing us and they started booking us and that’s how we got together.

Honey Cone: Shelly Clark Kathy Merrick & Wendy Smith-Briné – Courtesy of Honey Cone

That is so cool. Now you have had the most amazing career thus far. Starring on Broadway, Tina Turner, Jim Neighbors, Little Richard, I mean I could name them all, but we would be here all day. So, here’s my question have you had your ultimate stage fantasy or are you still looking for it?

Still looking. Well, the fantasy would be to open for my husband’s band Earth, Wind and Fire. The most that we have been able to do is get them on stage with us. We got five members of Earth, Wind and Fire on stage with us at Vibratos where we had a 90-minute concert. We have actually done that three times in a row. We try to book ourselves when they know that they are off. So, I have to bribe the booking agent to not book anything on certain days for nights. So, I believe the ultimate fantasy is still looking towards us.

What is it like to be married to someone in the same business as you? I ask you that for a reason I’ll tell you the reason after.

Okay. Listen to this. We are married almost 45 years. On stage I have a joke that I tell. We are both Leos. We have vibrant personalities. We fight almost every day. Mostly over the mirror.

Hahaha who wins?

Right? He does. You can’t out shop this guy either. He’s one of those husbands that never says honey can we go home now. He’s more like hey we got 2 hours let’s try some more stores.

Now the reason I asked you this is because Jimmy and I have a PR Company as well. One of our clients happens to be a composer named Randy Edelman. You probably don’t know him.

I do know him.

Well, his wife is Jackie DeShannon. And she had to retire. They could not live in the same house. She was very good friends with Jim Neighbors and I’m wondering if you ever ran into her?

I have not. But I credit Jim and Dusty Springfield both of them for being one of the first gays to be open. Dusty traveled with her wife, and she dared anyone to say anything about it. It was so just politically not correct then. But back then you had those people to open the doors. Jim Neighbors had the most beautiful black husband that used to come to all of the rehearsals and shows and he was not afraid especially during that time. It was so bold and outrageous. I just love and credit them for being great talents and fighting the system in that way.

You know I do too. I still credit people for that. It’s still difficult. As stupid as that is. Is there a moment that you can recall that changed the whole trajectory of your life?

Even though I was 18 or 19 I loved touring. I learned so much being around Tina Turner. She was so electrifying. I think I learned a lot watching her sing and dance as only James Brown was doing in those days. She learned a lot from the artists that went before her. Back in the 50s there was one woman who is doing this way ahead of everyone else. I was on a show with her because I toured with the Cab Calloway Cotton Club review and her name was Sally Blair. Sadly, she passed before she turned 50 years old, but she was the first electrifying artist, she was the first Beyonce. She was called the black blonde bombshell. I guess as a child I looked at her and said oh my God I want to be like her when I grow up. She left men drooling in the aisles. And she never took one piece of clothing off. But she did kick her shoes off during her performance. I got to spend two weeks with her, living with her while I was touring. So, I would have to say that maybe that changed my life in a way that I knew that you just can’t perform. You just can’t sing. You just can’t record. You have to be a well-rounded great stage artist. You have to put on a wonderful show. And I think that’s what I love about Earth, Wind and Fire. They are all great singers and great musicians, but they have a great show. They keep you engaged from the beginning to the end. People walk out of there thinking they had a religious experience.

I saw Earth, Wind & Fire at NAMM. A couple of years ago. I was representing someone from Pink Floyd. Leland Sklar who everyone knows.

Did you know that Leland and Verdine are in a base playing documentary together? It’s not out yet but I will send you the trailer.

Cool. But in any case, that’s how I saw them I was kind of following them around and Earth, Wind and Fire were up there, and I was like wow.

But you know what that was just a shadow of their show if it was at NAMM. You would have to see them in concert. Now are you from New York because I used to talk like you?

I am. I’m from Brooklyn. Born and raised.

Me too. I used to talk like you.

When is the next time you are going to be in

New York? I would like to put you on a television show. Profiles with Mickey Burns. You would love it.

I already love it. We were there in July. We did three shows. But I got to tell you if you are thinking about TV that is great. Dustin will get us back there.

It’s been a while since you’ve done Want Ads. The music industry has changed drastically. Do you like it better or worse? For you personally?

For me personally I have to say I’m having the time of my life. It’s so funny you should mention it. I went to a show last night at the Catalina Bar and Grill here in Hollywood. I had to go because the person they invited was my producer Holland Dozier Holland. It was Brian Holland. It brought back a flood of memories that when we signed with them in 1968 we had no control over anything. We didn’t own the name, we didn’t own the rights. The music. We had no input. We arranged our own background vocals, but we had to fight Lamont Dozier a lot because he wanted the control of that too.

So, I remember back in the 60s 70s none of the artists that were signed to a major label owned anything. It was horrible because first of all I didn’t want to join The Honey Cones. I stayed missing in action and the girls came looking for me saying where are you we are supposed to go sign. I was traveling in Europe and didn’t want to come back. Because of those reasons. I felt that we were not able to have any say so in our career or our songs. But they wore me down. I think it’s called stalking. When I finally went and signed I just said I’ll take one for the team. As it turned out the girls, Carolyn she’s still alive but she is retired. She called me and said I can’t take this anymore I’m quitting. And it was for all the reasons that I just cited. We are broke. We don’t have control. I am tired. There are no royalties. So, she quit. And I wanted to say I told you so. But I was kind and did not. I tried to recreate the group with the third girl. It seemed like the chemistry was gone. Not only that Holland Dozier the company was going bankrupt. It was at an end. And it was 1973.

From 68 to 73. And I say all that to say you put out this new record and we had all of the control. We could pick our own artwork. We picked our own platforms. I had Rhonda, an Italian girl who speaks French working the record along with Dustin. We got to pick our team. That would have been unheard of a long time ago. So, the answer to that question is maybe we are not really in control and don’t know how many downloads we are getting and that respect that is kind of crappy, but I will take this era over the last one. Any day.

One last question and then I’ll let you go. If you could have me ask you any question on the planet what would it be? Something maybe that no one’s ever asked you, something that you’ve always wanted to talk about,any question what would that be?

It would probably be what you asked me how does a power couple in this industry get along? How does that work? Because it is something that should be more talked about. He’s traveling. I’m traveling. We sometimes don’t see eye-to-eye on a lot of things. A couple in an industry like that it could be very challenging. I didn’t want to retire. Although I have to say I do dummy down a little bit because I want him to shine as the husband whatever it is. He’s got the brighter career.

And he’s a man and they are more childish so there you go LOL.

Yes exactly. He’s a triple Leo. All of his planets are in Leo. I’ve never heard of such a thing. But you can imagine what a challenge that is day to day. But we managed to work it out. When I first met him in 1978, we worked on music and there was nothing sexual for about a year. I got to know him as a person and a musician and a songwriter and that laid the basis for our relationship. That we could always go back to the friendship when things didn’t go well. So, I guess that part.

Watch the “Here Comes The Rain Again” music video by The Honey Cone here: