From Honey Cone to Verdine White: Shelly Clark’s R&B Journey

From Honey Cone to Verdine White: Shelly Clark’s R&B Journey

Author: Sandy Kaye October 8, 2025 Duration: 52:00

Get ready for an unforgettable conversation with Shelly Clark, the powerhouse singer, dancer, and actress who helped shape the sound of 1970s R&B as a founding member of the chart-topping girl group Honey Cone.

Born in Brooklyn and performing professionally by the age of six, Shelly Clark’s career began on Broadway before she went on to tour with legends like Cab Calloway and work as an Ikette in the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. But her real breakthrough came in 1968, when she co-founded Honey Cone with Edna Wright and Carolyn Willis.

With Holland-Dozier-Holland behind them at the Hot Wax/Invictus label, Honey Cone shot to stardom. Their smash hit “Want Ads” hit No.1 on both the Billboard Pop and R&B charts in 1971 and sold over a million copies.

Follow-up hits like “Stick-Up,” “One Monkey Don’t Stop No Show,” and “The Day I Found Myself” cemented their place in music history. Honey Cone weren’t just about catchy hooks — their lyrics spoke to female empowerment and independence, making them trailblazers in the girl-group era.

After the group disbanded, Shelly turned down an offer to join The Supremes and instead found a new path in television, solo work, and later in her personal life.

In 1980, she married Verdine White, legendary bassist of Earth, Wind & Fire. Their marriage has lasted more than four decades, built on music, love, and mutual respect. Today, Shelly continues to collaborate with Verdine, including producing his 2024 solo project “Superman.”

In recent years, Shelly has also revived Honey Cone with a new lineup, bringing timeless classics to fresh audiences. In 2024, the group released their first single in 50 years — a stunning cover of the Eurythmics’ “Here Comes the Rain Again.”

This episode dives deep into Shelly Clark’s incredible journey — from Broadway beginnings to No.1 hits, from Honey Cone fame to life with Verdine White, and her ongoing legacy as a singer, producer, and keeper of soul and R&B history.

If you love 70s soul, R&B girl groups, Earth, Wind & Fire, or music history, this is one story you won’t want to miss.

If you have any suggestions for guests for this show, or any commnents or feedback please reach out to me via the website https://www.abreathoffreshair.com.au

#shellyclark #ikette #honeyCone #earthwindandfire


There's a certain magic to the music that defined the '60s, '70s, and '80s, and it often lives in the stories behind the songs. In A BREATH OF FRESH AIR, host Sandy Kaye sits down for warm and candid conversations with the very artists who created those classic rock anthems and timeless hits. This multi award-winning podcast is built on in-depth interviews that feel more like a chat between old friends than a formal interrogation. You'll hear the personal anecdotes, the creative struggles, and the unexpected inspirations that fueled the soundtracks of entire generations. Sandy has a knack for drawing out those rare, behind-the-scenes moments, offering an intimate look at the lives of music legends beyond the stage and studio. Each episode invites you to relive the eras not just through the music, but through the memories of the people who made it. It's a chance to understand the human journey behind the iconic chords and lyrics. For anyone who wants to connect more deeply with the artists they've loved for decades, this podcast provides exactly that-a genuine and engaging portrait of musical history, told by the legends themselves.
Author: Language: en-au Episodes: 100

'60s '70s '80s - Warm, Candid, Classic, Rock Interviews with Music Legends - A BREATH OF FRESH AIR
Podcast Episodes
Richard Clapton: Stories Behind Australia’s Summer Soundtrack [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:00
When you talk about iconic Australian singer-songwriters, it doesn’t take long before Richard Clapton’s name comes up. For over five decades, Richard has been one of Australia’s true rock poets — the kind of artist whose…
Pilot’s ‘Magic’ Man: The Untold Story of David Paton [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:00
Scottish pop-rock legend David Paton is one of the most quietly influential musicians of the past fifty years. Born and raised in Edinburgh, David made his mark as the founder, lead singer, bassist, and chief songwriter…
Blondie's Chris Stein - A Rebel with a Musical Cause [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:00
Chris Stein’s story starts in Brooklyn, where he was born in 1950 into a free-thinking, politically leftist household. He wasn’t exactly a model student—he got expelled from high school and bounced around for a bit befor…
Bobby Sherman - RIP [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:00
Former singer and actor Bobby Sherman has passed away at 81 years old. In March, it was revealed Sherman was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer. Born in Santa Monica and raised in Van Nuys, Sherman was a teen idol in the late…
Spirit in the Sky: The Norman Greenbaum Story [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:00
Norman Greenbaum may be forever linked to the unforgettable guitar riff and gospel-tinged chorus of “Spirit in the Sky,” but there’s so much more to his story than one legendary song. Born in Massachusetts, Norman grew u…
Manfred Mann's Paul Jones: Blues, Brains and British Rock [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:00
Paul Jones is one of British music’s true originals—a singer, songwriter, harmonica player, actor, broadcaster, and blues pioneer whose career has spanned over six decades. Best known as the original frontman of Manfred…
P.J Proby - The Original Rock 'n' Roll Rebel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:00
If rock 'n' roll ever had a true outlaw—equal parts velvet-voiced crooner and headline-grabbing hellraiser—it was P.J. Proby. Born James Marcus Smith in 1938 in Houston, Texas, P.J. Proby has lived a life that most music…
Atlanta Rhythm Section's Rodney Justo. Rock Music Legend [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:00
If you’ve ever tuned into a classic rock radio station and felt the electric hum of Southern rock filling your soul, chances are you’ve brushed shoulders—musically speaking—with Rodney Justo. Best known as the original l…
Angry Anderson– Australia’s Most Famous Rock N Roll Outlaw [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:00
Before the name Angry Anderson was etched into the annals of Australian rock music history, before the explosive energy of Rose Tattoo dominated stages, and before the emotional hit single “Suddenly” melted hearts across…