Delbert McClinton
was born in 1940 in Lubbock, Texas, and at age 11 relocated with his family to
Fort Worth, Texas. His first band, the
Straitjackets, backed Sonny Boy
Williamson II, Howlin' Wolf, Lightnin' Hopkins, and Jimmy Reed at local roadhouses. McClinton in 1962 played harmonica
on Bruce Channel's "Hey!
Baby." Playing in Chanel's band on a British tour with the Beatles, McClinton instructed John Lennon on the finer points of
blues harmonica playing. Relocating to Los Angeles in 1972, McClinton first partnered
with fellow Texan Glen Clark, releasing
two albums of country/soul music before splitting and McClinton embarked on a
solo career. McClinton enjoyed a hit single, "Givin' It Up for Your Love,"
in 1980, won three Grammy Awards, and was inducted into the Texas Heritage
Songwriters Hall of Fame in March 2011. McClinton's 28th album, Blind, Crippled and Crazy, was released in
2013.
McClinton underwent emergency heart bypass surgery in April but,
performing a two-and-a-half hour set only three months later at B.B. King's Blues Club & Grill, the
73-year-old singer and harmonica player was in superb form. He said he felt
better than ever and jokingly recommended this surgery for everyone in the
audience over 65. Now more than three decades after his biggest hit, it hardly
mattered what songs he sang; his rich Texas gumbo of hot electric blues, rousing
honky-tonk country and smooth blue-eyed soul made every song enjoyable. Even
when his yearning timbre seemed to be stretching to hit high notes, this made
his drawling melodies sound even more soulful. Then he added more blues effect
with his wailing harmonica as the band pumped a swaggering rhythm sprinkled
with red Texas dust. Although the tables were pressed close together, audience
members often were moved to stand and dance at their seats. McClinton has played
more or less the same kind of nascent roots music for 50 years and it still sounded
contemporary and celebratory.
Delbert McClinton returns to B.B. King's Blues Club &
Grill on November 7. In the meantime, visit McClinton at www.delbert.com.
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