Delbert McClinton

Last updated
Delbert McClinton
Born (1940-11-04) November 4, 1940 (age 83)
Lubbock, Texas, U.S.
Origin Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
Genres Americana, blues rock, [1] electric blues, [1] roots rock, country
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, musician
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar, piano, harmonica
Years active1962–present
LabelsLeCam, Soft, Bobill, Brownfield, Smash, Clean, Paramount, ABC, Mercury, Capitol, MCA, Alligator, Curb, Intermedia, Polygram, Rising Tide, New West, Direct Source
Website delbert.com

Delbert McClinton (born November 4, 1940) [2] is an American blues rock and electric blues singer-songwriter, guitarist, harmonica player, and pianist. [1]

Contents

From his first professional stage appearance in 1957 to his most recent national tour in 2018, he has recorded albums for several major record labels and singles which have reached the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, Mainstream Rock Tracks, and Hot Country Songs charts. His highest-charting single was "Tell Me About It", a 1992 duet with Tanya Tucker, which reached number 4 on the Country chart. Four of his albums have been number 1 on the Blues chart, and another reached number 2. His highest charting pop hit was 1980's "Giving It Up for Your Love", which peaked at number 8 on the Hot 100.

McClinton has earned four Grammy Awards; 1992 Rock Performance by a Duo with Bonnie Raitt for "Good Man, Good Woman"; 2002 Contemporary Blues Album for Nothing Personal; 2006 Best Contemporary Blues Album for Cost of Living, and 2020 Best Traditional Blues Album for Tall, Dark, & Handsome. He has been nominated for eight Grammy Awards as of 2020. [3]

He was inducted into the Texas Heritage Songwriters Hall of Fame [4] in March 2011, along with Lee Roy Parnell, Bruce Channel, Gary Nicholson, and Cindy Walker. In 2019, Delbert McClinton was honored by the historic Paramount Theatre in Austin, Texas with the fifth star in their Walk of Fame. (Others are actors Jaston Williams and Joe Sears, and musical artists Jerry Jeff Walker and Lyle Lovett). [5]

Career

Early years

McClinton was born in Lubbock, Texas and moved with his family to Fort Worth, Texas when he was 11 years old. [2] He worked in a bar band, the Straitjackets, who backed Sonny Boy Williamson II, Howlin' Wolf, Lightnin' Hopkins, and Jimmy Reed. McClinton recorded several regional singles before hitting the national chart in 1962, playing harmonica on Bruce Channel's "Hey! Baby". [2] On a tour with Channel in the United Kingdom, McClinton instructed John Lennon on the finer points of blues harmonica playing. [6]

McClinton formed the Ron-Dels, sometimes called the Rondells, with Ronnie Kelly and Billy Wade Sanders. [7] [8] The band had a chart single in 1965 with "If You Really Want Me To I'll Go". [9]

1970s

Relocating to Los Angeles in 1972, McClinton partnered with fellow Texan Glen Clark to perform a combination of country and soul music. They released two albums before splitting and McClinton embarked on a solo career. [2]

Emmylou Harris had a number 1 hit in 1978 with her recording of McClinton's composition "Two More Bottles of Wine", and a cover version of his "B Movie Boxcar Blues" was on the first album by the Blues Brothers, Briefcase Full of Blues . [2]

1980s and 1990s

McClinton's 1980 album, The Jealous Kind, contained his only Top 40 hit single, "Giving It Up for Your Love", which peaked at number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 35 Adult Contemporary. [10] He was inactive in the studio during much of the 1980s, though he toured heavily. McClinton closed the decade with the Grammy-nominated 1989 album Live from Austin, recorded during an appearance on the television program Austin City Limits and co-produced by sax sideman Don Wise, who went on to become a longtime fixture in the band. [2]

In 1991 McClinton won a Grammy Award for a duet with Bonnie Raitt, "Good Man, Good Woman", and reached the Top 5 of the Country chart with "Tell Me About It", a duet with Tanya Tucker. [2] He re-entered the Billboard charts in 1992 with the album Never Been Rocked Enough , which included the charting single "Every Time I Roll the Dice" and a cover of John Hiatt's "Have a Little Faith in Me".

McClinton recorded the song "Weatherman", which was played with the opening titles of the 1993 film Groundhog Day , starring Bill Murray. The fledgling label Rising Tide Records released One of the Fortunate Few in 1997, before the label went out of business. [2]

2000–present

McClinton released two studio albums in the early 2000s for New West Records, which also issued Delbert McClinton Live in 2003, a compilation album of songs from his career. In 2006, he won a Grammy Award for his album Cost of Living in the category Best Contemporary Blues Album. [2]

Etta James included two McClinton songs on her 2003 album, Let's Roll .

McClinton was a judge for the fourth annual Independent Music Awards, presented to independent artists to support their careers. [11] He is featured in the documentary film Rocking the Boat: A Musical Conversation and Journey , by the filmmaker Jay Curlee.

McClinton performed on the Frankie Miller album Double Take , released in 2016; his voice is merged with Miller's in the song "Beginner at the Blues". His 2019 recording, Tall, Dark & Handsome , was chosen as a 'Favorite Blues Album' by AllMusic. [12] It was awarded the 2020 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album.

Discography

Studio albums

YearAlbum [13] Chart Positions [14] Label
US Blues US Country US US Indie
1972Delbert & GlenClean
1973Subject to Change
1975Victim of Life's CircumstancesABC
1976Genuine Cowhide
1977Love Rustler49
1978Second Wind Capricorn
1979Keeper of the Flame146
1980The Jealous Kind34Capitol
1981Plain from the Heart181
1987Honky Tonkin'MCA
1989Honky Tonkin'Alligator
Live from Austin
1990 I'm with You Curb
1992 Never Been Rocked Enough 118
1993Feelin' AlrightIntermedia
Delbert McClintonCurb
1994Shot from the SaddleMercury
Honky Tonk 'n BluesMCA
1995Let the Good Times Roll
1997One of the Fortunate Few215116Rising Tide
2001 Nothing Personal 1201033New West
2002 Room to Breathe 112843
2003 Live 4431
2005 Cost of Living 11410516
2006Live from Austin, TX
2007Rockin' BluesDirect Source
2009Acquired Taste113123New West
2013Blind, Crippled and Crazy117236
2017 Prick of the Litter 218Hot Shot
2019 Tall, Dark & Handsome 115

Compilation albums

YearAlbumLabel
1978Very Early Delbert McClinton Volume 1LeCam
Very Early Delbert McClinton Volume 2LeCam
1989The Best of Delbert McClintonCurb
1994Classics, Vol. 1: The Jealous Kind (reissue of 1980 album)Curb
Classics, Vol. 2: Plain from the Heart (reissue of 1981 album)Curb
1995Great Songs: Come Together
1999Crazy Cajun RecordingsEdsel
The Ultimate CollectionHip-O
2000Don't Let Go: The CollectionMusic Club
Genuine Rhythm & the BluesHip-O
2003The Best of Delbert McClinton, 20th Century Masters, Millennium CollectionMCA
2006The Definitive CollectionHip-O

Singles

YearSingleChart PositionsAlbum
US
[15]
US AC
[16]
US Country
[17]
US MSR CAN CAN Country
1965"If You Really Want Me To, I'll Go" (the Ron-Dels)97Very Early Delbert McClinton Volume 1
1972"I Received a Letter" (Delbert & Glen)90Delbert & Glen
1980"Giving It Up for Your Love"83510The Jealous Kind
1981"Shotgun Rider"70
"Sandy Beaches"101Plain from the Heart
1990"I'm with You"78I'm with You
1992"Every Time I Roll the Dice"1340Never Been Rocked Enough
1995"Come Together"Come Together: America Salutes the Beatles
1997"Sending Me Angels"6592One of the Fortunate Few
2001"When Rita Leaves"Nothing Personal
2002"Same Kind of Crazy"Room to Breathe
"Lone Star Blues"
2005"One of the Fortunate Few"Cost of Living
"I Had a Real Good Time"
2006"Midnight Communion"
2009"Mama's Little Baby"Acquired Taste
"Starting a Rumor"

Guest singles

YearSingleArtistChart PositionsAlbum
US CountryCAN Country
1993"Tell Me About It" Tanya Tucker 43 Can't Run from Yourself

Music videos

YearVideo
1990"I'm with You"
1990"Who's Foolin' Who"
1992"Everytime I Roll The Dice"
1995"Come Together"
1997"Sending Me Angels"
2002"Lone Star Blues"

Grammy awards and nominations

YearNominee / workAwardResultRef.
2020 Tall, Dark, & Handsome Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album Won [18]
2006 "Midnight Communion" Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance Nominated
Cost Of Living Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album Won
2003 Room To Breathe Nominated
2002 Nothing Personal Won
1993 "Tell Me About It" Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Collaboration Nominated
1992 "Good Man, Good Woman" Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal Won
1990 Live From Austin Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Recording Nominated

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Huey Lewis</span> American singer and actor

Hugh Anthony Cregg III, known professionally as Huey Lewis, is an American singer, songwriter, and actor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Hiatt</span> American singer-songwriter and musician

John Robert Hiatt is an American singer-songwriter. He has played a variety of musical styles on his albums, including new wave, blues, and country. Hiatt has been nominated for nine Grammy Awards and has been awarded a variety of other distinctions in the music industry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aaron Neville</span> American singer (born 1941)

Aaron Joseph Neville is an American R&B and soul singer. He has had four platinum albums and four Top 10 hits in the United States, including three that reached number one on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart. "Tell It Like It Is", from 1966, also reached the top position on the Soul chart for five weeks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kim Carnes</span> American singer and songwriter (born 1945)

Kim Carnes is an American singer and songwriter born and raised in Los Angeles. She began her career as a songwriter in the 1960s, writing for other artists while performing in local clubs and working as a session background singer with the famed Water Sisters. After she signed her first publishing deal with Jimmy Bowen, she released her debut album Rest on Me in 1971. Carnes' self-titled second album primarily contained self-penned songs, including her first charting single "You're a Part of Me", which reached No. 35 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart in 1975. In the following year, Carnes released Sailin', which featured "Love Comes from Unexpected Places". The song won the American Song Festival and the award for Best Composition at the Tokyo Song Festival in 1976.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keb' Mo'</span> American blues singer, guitarist, and songwriter

Kevin Roosevelt Moore, known as Keb' Mo', is an American blues musician and eight-time Grammy Award winner. He is a singer, guitarist, and songwriter, living in Nashville, Tennessee. He has been described as "a living link to the seminal Delta blues that travelled up the Mississippi River and across the expanse of America." His post-modern blues style is influenced by many eras and genres, including folk, rock, jazz, pop and country. The moniker "Keb Mo" was coined by his original drummer, Quentin Dennard, and picked up by his record label as a "street talk" abbreviation of his given name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leon Russell</span> American singer-songwriter (1942–2016)

Leon Russell was an American musician and songwriter who was involved with numerous bestselling records during his 60-year career that spanned multiple genres, including rock and roll, country, gospel, bluegrass, rhythm and blues, southern rock, blues rock, folk, surf and the Tulsa sound. His recordings earned six gold records and he received two Grammy Awards from seven nominations. In 2011, he was inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

<i>Luck of the Draw</i> (album) 1991 studio album by Bonnie Raitt

Luck of the Draw is the eleventh studio album by Bonnie Raitt, released in 1991.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Cotton</span> American blues singer-songwriter (1935–2017)

James Henry Cotton was an American blues harmonica player, singer and songwriter, who performed and recorded with many fellow blues artists and with his own band. He also played drums early in his career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Something to Talk About (Bonnie Raitt song)</span> 1991 single by Bonnie Raitt

"Something to Talk About" is a song written by Canadian singer-songwriter Shirley Eikhard and recorded by American singer Bonnie Raitt for her 1991 album Luck of the Draw. It was serviced to US radio on June 3, 1991. Two single versions were released: a 7-inch single with the B-side "One Part Be My Lover" and a 12-inch single with these two songs and "I Ain't Gonna Let You Break My Heart Again". In turn, this song was included on the EP version of Raitt’s 2000 single of "The Fundamental Things" taken from her 1998 album Fundamental. It was also included in 2003’s greatest hits compilation The Best of Bonnie Raitt. Live versions appear on 1995's Road Tested and 2006's Bonnie Raitt and Friends.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ivan Neville</span> American R&B musician and singer

Ivan Neville is an American multi-instrumentalist musician, singer, and songwriter. He is the son of Aaron Neville and nephew to the other members of The Neville Brothers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Hutchinson (musician)</span> American session bassist (born 1953)

James "Hutch" Hutchinson (born January 24, 1953)is an American session bassist best known for his work with Bonnie Raitt.Though his work takes him nearly everywhere he primarily resides in Studio City, Los Angeles, CA and Haiku-Pauwela, Hawaii.

<i>Never Been Rocked Enough</i> 1992 studio album by Delbert McClinton

Never Been Rocked Enough is a studio album by the American musician Delbert McClinton. It was released in 1992 by Curb Records. The first single was "Every Time I Roll the Dice". McClinton supported the album with a North American tour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Todd Cerney</span> Musical artist

Todd David Cerney was an American songwriter and musician.

<i>Room to Breathe</i> (Delbert McClinton album) 2002 studio album by Delbert McClinton

Room to Breathe is a solo studio album by American blues rock singer-songwriter Delbert McClinton. It was released on August 24, 2002 via New West Records. It was recorded at Sound Emporium at Nashville, Tennessee with additional recording at Bismeaux Studio in Austin, Texas. Production was handled by Gary Nicholson and McClinton himself.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Hambridge</span> American drummer

Thomas Jay Hambridge is an American rock, country, and blues, producer, songwriter, musician and vocalist. Hambridge has received two Grammy Awards, an ASCAP award, seven Grammy nominations, seven Boston Music Awards, and has been inducted into the Buffalo Hall of Fame. In December 2015, Hambridge was given the key to his hometown of Buffalo, New York with Mayor Byron Brown declaring December 28 "Tom Hambridge Day." Hambridge's songs have been recorded by several notable artists and have been featured in movie productions, commercials and television programs. He has been referred to as "The White Willie Dixon" by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Buddy Guy and Susan Tedeschi's "Secret Weapon".

Gary Nicholson is an American singer-songwriter and record producer, known mainly for his work in country music and blues. He is a two-time Grammy winning producer and was inducted into the Texas Heritage Songwriter's Association Hall of Fame. Nicholson has more than 500 recordings and is best known for his work with Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Garth Brooks, George Strait, Ringo Starr, BB King, Fleetwood Mac and Billy Joe Shaver.

Tony Braunagel is an American drummer, producer, and songwriter from Houston, Texas, United States, who is based in Los Angeles, California. Braunagel has played on many film scores and television shows as well as numerous albums as a musician, composer and producer. He is best known as a session drummer and/or percussionist of over 200 albums including those of Otis Rush, Eric Burdon, Johnny Nash, Coco Montoya, Lucky Peterson, as well as Grammy winning albums of Bonnie Raitt, Taj Mahal, Buddy Guy (percussion) and for performing live with dozens of music icons including Bonnie Raitt, Rickie Lee Jones, BB King, Lightnin’ Hopkins, John Lee Hooker, Robert Cray, Bette Midler, Lyle Lovett, and Taj Mahal to name just a few.

<i>Nothing Personal</i> (Delbert McClinton album) 2001 studio album by Delbert McClinton

Nothing Personal is a solo studio album by American blues rock singer-songwriter Delbert McClinton. It was released on March 6, 2001, through New West Records, making it his first album for the label. Recording sessions took place at House of Blues Studio in Los Angeles, Sound Emporium and East Iris Studios in Nashville, Tennessee, with additional recording at The Doghouse and Station West in Nashville, TN. Production was handled by Gary Nicholson and McClinton himself.

<i>Tall, Dark, and Handsome</i> (album) 2019 studio album by Delbert McClinton and Self-Made Men Dana

Tall, Dark, & Handsome is a studio album by American blues musician Delbert McClinton and his second album with Self-Made Men. It was released on July 26, 2019, through Hot Shot Records with distribution via Thirty Tigers/The Orchard. Recording sessions took place at The Rock House in Franklin, Tennessee. Production was handled by Bob Britt, Kevin McKendree, and McClinton himself. It features saxophone player Dana Robbins, who contributed to three of the fourteen tracks on the album and also credited on the album's cover.

<i>Cost of Living</i> (Delbert McClinton album) 2005 studio album by Delbert McClinton

Cost of Living is a solo studio album by American blues rock singer-songwriter Delbert McClinton. It was released on August 23, 2005 through New West Records, making it his third studio album for the label. Recording sessions took place in Nashville, Tennessee at Fearless Recording on March 8–10, 2004, and at The Sound Emporium on February 7–8, 2005. Production was handled by McClinton himself along with Gary Nicholson, with Wendy Goldstein and Cameron Strang serving as executive producers.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Du Noyer, Paul (2003). The Illustrated Encyclopedia do of Music. Fulham, London: Flame Tree Publishing. p. 181. ISBN   1-904041-96-5.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Huey, Steve. "Delbert McClinton: Biography". Allmusic.com. Retrieved September 3, 2011.
  3. "Search Results for Delbert Mcclinton". Grammy.com. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  4. "Texas Heritage Songwriters Association". Texasheritagesongwriters.com. April 28, 2016. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
  5. Blackstock, Peter. "It's a Delbert McClinton Weekend: Venue, charity will honor Texas musician in early 2019". Austin360.com. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  6. "Delbert's Biography". Archived from the original on October 5, 2010. Retrieved 2010-07-05.
  7. "The house band at the Tracer was the Ron-Dels, a white-boy blues, rock, and country band led by a soulful singer named Delbert McClinton and his buddies Ronnie Kelly and Billy Wade Sanders." Patoski, Joe Nick (2008). Willie Nelson: An Epic Life. Little, Brown. pp. 85–86. ISBN   0316017787.
  8. "McClinton's sides, of the same vintage, display his capable voice leading the Ron-Dels and the Straightjackets, two prominent Fort Worth white punk groups of the day." Texas Monthly, April 1979, p. 183.
  9. "Upon returning to the U.S., McClinton founded a group called the Rondells (sometimes listed as the Ron-Dels), which had a minor chart single in 1965 with 'If You Really Want Me to, I'll Go'". Bogdanov, Vladimir; Woodstra, Chris; Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (2003). All Music Guide to Country. p. 480. ISBN   0879307609.
  10. Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 157.
  11. "Independent Music Awards – Past Judges". Archived from the original on July 13, 2011.
  12. "Favorite Blues Albums | AllMusic 2019 in Review". AllMusic . Retrieved December 24, 2019.
  13. "Delbert McClinton". Koti.mbnet.fi. August 27, 2011. Archived from the original on January 13, 2016. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
  14. "Delbert McClinton: Awards". AllMusic.com. November 4, 1940. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
  15. Whitburn, Joel (2011). Top Pop Singles 1955–2010. Record Research. p. 584. ISBN   978-0-89820-188-8.
  16. [ dead link ]
  17. "Delbert McClinton: Country Airplay". Billboard . Retrieved January 29, 2018.
  18. "Delbert McClinton | Artist | GRAMMY.com". www.grammy.com. Retrieved August 19, 2023.