 In the mid-1970s Clayton sang on The Blackbyrds' R&B hit "Rock Creek Park", and continued to release solo albums throughout the next decade, notching several minor R&B chart singles.Her soundtrack work continued into the 1980s, including "You're Always There When I Need You", the title track for the 1980 "Get Smart" film "The Nude Bomb", and the song "Yes" from "Dirty Dancing", which hit #45 on the Hot 100.In 1987, Clayton co-starred with Ally Sheedy in the film "Maid to Order" That same year, Clayton also played the character "Verna Dee Jordan" in the final season of "Cagney & Lacey".