简介：byRichardSkelly VocalistMightySamMcClainisaspecialistinSouthernsoulblues,oneoftheoriginalmastersfromthe1960s,whenthemusicenjoyeditspeakpopularity.HecarriesonthetraditionofvocalistslikeBobbyBland,SolomonBurke,OtisClay,JamesCarrandOtisRedding.Hisexcellent1990srecordingsarenowwidelyavailable,butthatwasntalwaysthecase. Likesomanyothersoulbluesvocalists,McClainbegansinginggospelinhismotherschoirwhenhewasfive.At13,owingtodisagreementswithhisstepfather,helefthomeandlivedwithgrandparentsforawhilebeforehookingupwithLittleMelvinUnderwood.HeworkedwithUnderwoodfirstasavaletandlaterasafeaturedvocalistinhisroadshow. HisinspirationsincludedLittleWillieJohn,ClydeMcPhatteroftheDrifters,B.B.King,andBobbyBlueBland.McClainrecalledseeingBlandatthecityauditoriuminMonroe,La.asarevelatorymoment.Yearslater,McClainwouldopenforBlandatTipitinas,abluesclubinNewOrleans.Tothisday,heconsidersBlandsnodofapprovalahighpointofhiscareer. Whileworkingatthe506ClubinPensacola,Fla.,inthemid1960s,hewasintroducedtoproducerandDJDonSchroeder.WorkingwithSchroeder,herecordedPatsyClineshitSweetDreams.Afterthis,severalothervisitstoMuscleShoalsStudiosinAlabamayieldedsingleslikeFannieMaeandIntheSameOldWay.McClaincontinuedtocreateaneverbroadeningaudienceforhissingingviahisengagementsatthe506ClubandlaterattheApolloTheatreinHarlem.HerecordedasingleforMalacoandtwosinglesforAtlanticin1971beforefallingoffthemusicsceneforawhile. Forthenext15yearsorso,McClaintookmenialdayjobs,livinginNashvilleandNewOrleans.TheNevilleBrothersandothersfromtheCrescentCityscenehavebeencreditedwithhelpinghimrevivehiscareerasasinger.McClainmetMasonRuffnersdrummerKerryBrown,andthetwoputabandtogether.Shortlyafter,theyrecordedasingleforCarloDittasOrleanslabel,andMcClainsrecordingandperformingcareerwasrejuvenated.AfterrecordingwithHubertSumlinonHubertSumlinsBluesPartyfortheBlackToplabelin1987,McClainbegantoreestablishhisformerreputationasagreatsoulbluessinger,touringwithSumlinandhisentourage.Bythelate1980s,McClainhadmovedfromHoustontoBoston.Formostofthe1990s,heslivedinBostonandsouthernNewHampshire. McClaindidntrecordhisfirststudioalbumunderhisownnameuntilhewas50,throughhisBostondrummerLorneEntress,whomadeaconnectionwiththeCaliforniabasedAudioquestlabel. McClainsAudioquestalbumsincludeGiveItUptoLove(1992),KeeponMoving(1995),andSledgehammerSoulandDownHomeBlues(1996),thelastnominatedforaW.C.HandyAward.Allreceivedravereviewsfromthecritics,andforthefirsttimeinhislife,hesincontrolofhisownsongpublishingrights.Mostofthesongsonallthreealbumsutilizeafullhornsection,andontopofthisrideMcClainsdeep,powerfulvocals,oftentimesinselfpennedsongs.(GiveItUptoLovehassincebeenrereleased(1997)ontheJVClabel.)BluesfortheSoul(2000)wasissuedonSundazedandSweetDreamsfollowedonTelarcin2001. Sincethelate1980s,McClainscareerhasbeenontheupswingagainsinceheputtogethersomegreatbackingbandsandcarvedanicheforhimselfinEurope.McClaincontinuedtotourtheU.S.,EuropeandCanada.