With a name like that, there’s no need for a longer title. Clay is a friend of mine. And I am proud of that because Clay was friends with Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin!
A lot of people know Clay online as a marketer, website developer, and all around great guy. What most people don’t know is Clay was one of the best piano mercenaries you could hire. He tickled the keys like nobody’s business. I would give anything to go back in time to see one (or all) of his shows with some of the greatest musicians and rock stars in history.
Another thing most people don’t know is why everyone talks about Clay and the piano in the past tense. This is because Clay’s been suffering with MS for years. He’s long past being able to control his body well enough to jam on the piano like he used to.
Think about that for a moment.
The one thing you do professionally – the one thing you love more than almost anything else, is taken away from you by a disgusting, evil disease we should have a cure for by now. I’m a drummer. Not professionally. But it would still shake me to the core to wake up one day unable to play. One of the reasons I admire Clay is he’s never shown any bitterness or anger to me about it.
I’m sure there are times he’d like to smash something, but Clay isn’t really that kind of guy. He’s taken his health issues with the courage and strength I am not sure I could match if I were in his situation. His sense of humor and grace is amazing and inspiring to me.
It’s been awhile since I’ve publicly thanked Clay for what he’s taught me about life dealing out some serious lemons and how one should try to handle what life gives (or takes away from) you.
So, thanks piano man!
If you’d like to learn more about Clay, check out his site: Clay Cotton. He’s also on Twitter: @claycotton
You can purchase one of Clay’s CDs (Highly recommended for the music alone!)
Want to hear what Clay’s piano playing was like?
Check this salvaged video Clay found of himself back in the day:
I wasn’t kidding when I said he was amazing!
The other reason I am writing this post is to ask those who are inspired by Clay’s story or music to support him in any way you can. Twitter about him. Buy his CDs. Tell your friends about him. He needs our help because he’s more and more unable to do the daily work of an internet marketer due to his disease.
First it took away his piano. Now it is attacking his current livelihood and only source of income: online marketing. You will find things on Clay’s site you can do to help him and his wonderful, patient, full-time-caretaker and wife get through a really tough time in their lives.
Sometimes it is fulfilling to give support to a group that helps thousands of people. And sometimes it is really rewarding to know the person you are helping and that they deserve every bit of it.
Thanks again Clay for being who you are and for all the inspiration, laughs, and support you continue to give selflessly our whole community.
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
Great message Jack, and great video Clay! Very inspiring! I will definitely do what I can to help.
Anissas last blog post..Ask Anissa: While looking for a particular beading pattern I found that some sites require you to be a subscriber, is this the wave of the future?
There is nothing better than a boogy woogie piano. You are the best Clay. That is damned amazing.
I could listen to that all day.
Be strong angel.
Lorraine Grulas last blog post..Online Video Marketing: Monetizing Your Video
As a member of blogsuccess and having bought several products from you Jack, I have always got more than I paid for. More than happy to support Clay and his family. As a guitarist for more than 30 years I can’t imagine not being able to play due to Poor health. Let’s all send him our energy to help him live a happy life as fulfilled as can be.
Clay is truly an artist at the keyboard. And his website is terrific. everyone should check it out.
Roys last blog post..The Family History
Clay you are the best! Keep up the good work.
Hi Jack and Clay,
Life can and does deal out some serious lemons and how one tries to handle what life can give (or takes away from) you is the lesson we can all learn from. Total admiration.
Take care
Regards
Dawn
Dawn Pughs last blog post..Facebook and Factitious Disorder
Clay is an amazing artist. Without a doubt, I can listen to his music all day. One of the best…
“What is important to me today is not so much what I was able to do in the past as an performing artist or as an early-adopter, web cash pioneer, but about what is stirring within your heart right now…
These feelings you feel this very moment are the stuff upon which I base my deep and abiding faith in the fundamental goodness in you right now, faith in the higher impulses of human nature… forces such as your deep gratitude, love, compassion, fairness, trust, giving, helping, sharing, caring, humility, persistence, courage, truth, empathy, beneficence, ease, flow, flexibility, humor, wit, benevolence, grace and kindness.
And you’re in luck, because folks now using the internet clearly and irrefutably reward these desirable attributes through their devoted attention, loyalty and cash flow. A networked economy can survive no other way, and I’m thrilled to have proof if this each and every day.
Sure, we all have downturns from time to time, but I’m living proof that you can rise above it and give your best. I hereby accept the job of being a reminder of your own precious natural adaptability and resilience, of how you can trust and exemplify the very best in yourself in your times of challenge and adversity, in everyday life and most especially in so-called “business”…
What we most need to remember is that we are we are designed for sociability, constantly engaged in a “neural ballet” that connects us heart to heart and soul to soul and brain to brain with those around us in an amazing network, knowing that we humans have a built-in bias toward empathy, cooperation, and altruism, provided we develop the social intelligence to nurture these capacities in ourselves and others.
This what I like so much about you. It takes courage for a person to listen to her own goodness and act on it, but each person has inside a basic decency and goodness, and when he acts on it, he is giving a great deal of what it is the world of business needs most
And so…
I give you permission to give yourself permission to examine and refine the driving forces in your work and in your everyday life to better align what’s in your heart and soul.
In my long experience with Jack Humphrey and friends my heart is warmed as i see how you epitomize these uplifting principles as models of successful behavior that work in life online and off.
Gone are those old days where we had to contend with “maximum-extraction, greed and avarice, rape and pillage marketing” techniques thrust upon is by self-oprocalimed “gurus” who rip off the ignorant with multiple static-product offers.
This thinking is rooted in ideas from
“The Cottonomic Manifesto” circa 1999:
– Grid Not Greed
– Marry Your Network
– Concept Beats Copy
– Give First and Prove Your Worth
– Love Your Audience, Not Your Agenda
– Issue Value Worthy of Devotion for the Highest Good of All Involved
– Seek Unlimited Access to and Inexhautible FounainHead of Magnificent Inspirations
…and such the like…
As challenging as it is for me with this darned Multiple Sclerosis, I’ve consented to present these “Cottonomic” rules tools and tactics anew, now that QuadMedia allows me to this with the ease my condition demand, and for starters . . .
YOU can join us on twitter: @clay_cotton
http://twitter.com/clay_cotton
So later you can learn about our new QuadMedia Streams thru membership in “The CottonClub”, our own little playhouse
It’s not really about the money, is it…? It’s all on the INside . . .
Who luvs ya, baby?
/brother clay
http://ClayCotton.com
CLAY COTTONs last blog post..clay_cotton: RT @lizstrauss: Don’t be looking for chances, be getting things done.
Hi Clay and everybody.
What a positively fantastic and upbeat post. It is so nice to see such a positive attitude in a world of negativity and GREED. Can you say Wall Street?
I am honored to be connected to you with this wonderful thing we can the internet.
Stay strong angel. Let your heart boogie on!
Lorraine Grulas last blog post..Online Video Marketing: Making It Easy