Don Covay
#274570 Most Popular
About
American R&B, rock and roll, and soul singer-songwriter most active from the 1950s to the 1970s who was best known for the hits "Mercy, Mercy," "See-Saw," and "It's Better to Have (and Don't Need)."
Before Fame
He was a member of the musical group Rainbows and made his first recordings with that group in 1956.
Trivia
He also wrote "Pony Time," which was a US number 1 hit for Chubby Checker, and "Chain of Fools," a Grammy-winning song for Aretha Franklin. He received a Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in 1994.
Family Life
His birth name is Donald James Randolph. His father, a Baptist preacher, died when he was eight. He moved to Washington, D.C., with his mother Helen Zimmerman Randolph and his siblings in the early 1950s. His wife Yvonne Darby died in 1981 and his son, Donald Covay Jr. died in 2010. His other children are Wendy, Wanda Richardson, Ursula Parkes, and Antonio.
Associated With
His solo career began in 1957 as part of Little Richard's opening act.
