Break out the mistletoe and bubbly, and while you’re at it, head to Epworth United Methodist Church in Edgewater and catch a performance by Lake View resident Hubert Clay, who is making beautiful music throughout Chicago.

Not only does Clay deck the halls of Epworth, Ballet Chicago and the Catherine Cook School in Old Town, he recently wowed the crowd at my house during an impromptu holiday sing-a-long.

“I am always glad when I make new friends through music,’ said Clay, who started playing in 1963. “If I feel after it is all over that I have communicated musically, I am very happy.”

Clay definitely communicated musically at my home, everyone raved about him. I found Clay, who hails from Collinsville, Mississippi, on Craigslist last spring while searching for a pianist for my mom’s memorial service.

At that time, I had specific songs I wanted played, my mother’s favorites. The first person auditioning was a nice enough fellow who played fairly well but came with a songbook and seemed distracted when turning the page. The second person to come was Hubert Clay.

His fingers touched the black and whites and immediately, he owned me. There was no songbook — Clay plays by ear, and his fingers worked magic. I knew he was someone my mom would have loved.

I had no idea when I stumbled across Clay what a gem I’d found. He started teaching music at age 16, which is what he does at the Catherine Cook School. At Epworth, Clay is music director and performs a myriad of jobs while playing the Barnes Memorial Organ and Kimball grand. At Ballet Chicago, he is staff pianist.

“Chicago is a great music capital of the world,” Clay said. “I believed it would be a place of opportunity and it sure is.”

Before heading to Chicago in June 2004, Clay was tickling the ivories nightly in some of New Orleans’s big name hotels, including The Fairmont. How many songs can he play?

“Burt Bacharach was once asked that question and he replied between 5,000 and 6,000,” Clay said. “Well, I know more than the one who only knows ‘Jingle Bells’ by heart, but many less than Mr. Bacharach.”

Clay, whose favorite song is “Our Love is Here to Stay,” said he’s ready to play for any Chicagoan who has “something that has keys that work.”

“When I was about to leave the south for Chicago I became very concerned that really I was too old to be starting a new life in such a big city,” said Clay. “A native Chicagoan friend of told me not to worry, because Chicago is a city of neighborhoods.

“This allayed my fears because I thought, ‘Well, I can handle a city of neighborhoods.’ He left out that these neighborhoods are populated by some of the best and most big- hearted people on Earth.”

Back at ya with the love, Hubert. All I can say is, when is comes to piano playing, you’re quite grand. Reach Hubert Clay at [email protected]

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Happy holidays to all!

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By Sheila Mangler from Edgewater
Posted: 01/31/2010 7:36 PM

We at Epworth UMC have been richly blessed by Hugh\'s musical ministry. We consider him to be a treasure! I enjoy trading stories with him about our experiences at Lyric Opera and CSO.

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By Satia Orange from Edgewater
Posted: 01/31/2010 5:48 PM

Hubert Clay is a true blessing in my life, and his worship ministry at Epworth United Methodist Church is important to many! Thanks, Hu!