Mighty Sam McClain

Biography

Samuel McClain (April 15, 1943 – June 15, 2015), billed as Mighty Sam (McClain), was an American soul blues singer and songwriter. He was born in Monroe, Louisiana. As a five-year-old, he began singing in his mother's Gospel Church. McClain left home when he was thirteen and followed local R&B guitarist, Little Melvin Underwood through the Chitlin' Circuit, first as his valet and then as lead vocalist himself at 15. While singing at the 506 Club in Pensacola, Florida he was introduced to the r...

Samuel McClain (April 15, 1943 – June 15, 2015), billed as Mighty Sam (McClain), was an American soul blues singer and songwriter.

He was born in Monroe, Louisiana. As a five-year-old, he began singing in his mother's Gospel Church. McClain left home when he was thirteen and followed local R&B guitarist, Little Melvin Underwood through the Chitlin' Circuit, first as his valet and then as lead vocalist himself at 15.

While singing at the 506 Club in Pensacola, Florida he was introduced to the record producer and DJ, Papa Don Schroeder and in 1966, McClain recorded a cover version of Patsy Cline's "Sweet Dreams". Several recording sessions at Muscle Shoals produced the further singles, "Fannie-May" and "In the Same Old Way". For fifteen years, first in Nashville, Tennessee, then in New Orleans, McClain worked at menial jobs. McClain toured and recorded in Japan in 1989. The end product, Live in Japan, featured Wayne Bennett.

By the early 1990s, McClain relocated to New England through his participation in the "Hubert Sumlin Blues Party" project. This led to Joe Harley and AudioQuest Music. The results were the successful releases, Give It Up To Love and Keep On Movin'. After his move to New Hampshire, then followed Sledgehammer Soul and Down Home Blues. In 1998 McClain had two releases, Journey and Joy & Pain on the CrossCut Records label. Soul Survivor: The Best of Mighty Sam McClain was his farewell to AudioQuest in 1999. McClain signed on with the Telarc Blues in 1999, taking his longtime producer Joe Harley with him, and recorded the Blues Music Award nominated Blues for the Soul (2000) and Sweet Dreams (2001).

In 1996, McClain formed McClain Productions after successfully co-producing his albums with Joe Harley. He also created his own record label, Mighty Music, which released One More Bridge To Cross in February 2003. Betcha Didn't Know was issued in July 2009 on Mighty Music. It was nominated by the Blues Association as 'Soul/Blues Album 2010'.

In 2008, McClain joined the 'Give US Your Poor' project, benefiting the homeless. He also co-wrote with the saxophonist Scott Shetler, "Show Me the Way". He continued to work with this project, performing at both the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, and at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. and other venues, sharing the stage with Natalie Merchant, and Mario Frangoulis. In early 2009, McClain recorded an album of duets with the Iranian folk singer, Mahsa Vahdat. The resulting album, Scent of Reunion: Love Duets Across Civilizations reached #6 in the European World Music Chart.

McClain and the guitarist for this project, Knut Reiersrud, collaborated on One Drop is Plenty that was recorded in Norway in January 2011. Also, McClain sung the theme song for the film, Time and Charges. "Find the Sun" was written by Thompson and Joe Deleault, and McClain appeared in a cameo role in the film singing the song.

McClain recorded Too Much Jesus (Not Enough Whiskey) in 2012. The following year the title song, "Too Much Jesus (Not Enough Whiskey)," written by McClain and Pat Herlehy, was nominated for a Blues Music Award in the 'Best Song' category.

In 2014 McClain was featured on the compilation Songs from a Stolen Spring that paired Western musicians with artists from the Arab Spring. On the album McClain performed "If I Can Dream" - a Walter Earl Brown song made famous by Elvis Presley. The performance was meshed with "Bread, Freedom" by the Egyptian musician Ramy Essam who is best known for his appearances in Tahrir Square in Cairo during the Egyptian Revolution of 2011.

McClain suffered a stroke in April 2015, and died on June 15, 2015. The cause of death is not yet known.

Version 1, edited by midlifefanclub on 18 November 2019, 1:31pm · View version historyEdit this wiki


"America’s best purveyor of red-clay soul blues…"
Sam McClain was born on the northern edge of the Bible Belt in Monroe, Louisiana in 1943. As a five-year-old, he began singing in his mother’s Gospel Church. It was then that he realized singing was his mission.
He left home when he was thirteen to escape an abusive stepfather and followed a local R&B guitarist, "Little Melvin" Underwood through the Chitlin Circuit, first as his valet and then as lead vocalist himself at 15.

While singing at the 506 Club in Pensacola, Florida he was introduced to Producer/ DJ, "Papa Don" Schroeder, and in 1966 Sam recorded Patsy Cline's "Sweet Dreams" - his first real success. Several recording sessions at Muscle Shoals produced the singles, "Fannie-May" and "In the Same Old Way". For
fifteen years, first in Nashville, then in New Orleans, Sam worked menial jobs and was forced to sell his plasma while he was homeless. From cotton fields to the Apollo Theater to the park bench, all while living the songs that would jump-start his career in the mid-1980. New Orleans own Neville Brothers extended themselves at this lowest of times and Sam was offered a chance to tour and record in Japan in 1989. "Live in Japan", featuring legendary Wayne Bennett is a fine recording, much sought after by fans worldwide.

By the early 1990's Sam networked his way to New England through his participation in the "Hubert Sumlin Blues Party" project (produced by Hammond Scott on Black Top), which involved many Boston based musicians. These friends provided encouragement and collaborations, which led him to Joe Harley and AudioQuest Music. The results were the successful releases of "Give It Up To Love" and "Keep On Movin". After his move to New Hampshire the momentum continued to build with "Sledgehammer Soul and Down Home Blues". In 1998 Sam had two releases, "Journey" (AQM) and "Joy and Pain - Live in Europe" on the CrossCut label. "Soul Survivor -The Best of MSM" was his farewell to AudioQuest in 1999. ("Journey" and "Soul Survivor" both include "New Man in Town", featured on David E. Kelley's TV show Ally McBeal on FOX-TV). Sam signed on with the Telarc Blues label in 1999, taking his longtime producer Joe Harley with him and recorded W.C. Handy nominated "Blues for the Soul in 2000 and "Sweet Dreams" in 2001 (also Handy nominated)

Sam started to take back his career in 1996 and turned to managing himself. His publishing company, Emily's Son Publishing, has been licensed since 1993 when his original work appeared on "Give "It Up To Love". McClain formed McClain Productions after successfully co-producing his CD's with Joe Harley. And now, the last step of his independence has been realized through the creation of his own label, Mighty Music, which released his CD "One More Bridge To Cross" in February 2003. In July 2009 the album "Betcha Didn't Know", which reveals yet another side of MSM, was released on Mighty Music with City Hall Records as the distributor. Sam greatly appreciated the nomination of this CD by The Blues Association as the "Soul/Blues Album 2010". You can find it in well-supplied record stores near you or order it directly from the web - stop by and listen!

2008 brought Sam into the "Give US Your Poor" project, benefiting the homeless. He co-wrote (with saxophonist Scott Shetler) "Show Me the Way", which was included in the compilation where he and Jon Bon Jovi sung this stirring anthem as a duet. He continues to work with this project, performing at both The Lincoln Center, New Your City and at The Kennedy Center in Washington and other venues, sharing the stage with Natalie Merchant, and the smashing Greek tenor, Mario Frangoulis, as well as the others mentioned on the CD. In early 2009, MSM was asked to record a CD of duets with Iranian folk vocalist Mahsa Vadhat. The resulting CD, "Scent of Reunion-Love Duets Across Civilizations" (www.kkv.no) reached #6 in the European World Music Charts and this is a Mighty Sam McClain that has never been heard before! Mahsa and Sam performed concerts in Norway to celebrate this music. Sam and the guitarist for this project, Knut Reisersrud, collaborated on a CD that was recorded and released in Norway in 2011. Also, Sam has sung the theme song for Ernest Thompson, (the Oscar winner for "On Golden Pond") for his new film, "Time and Change". "Find the Sun" is a song written by Thompson and Joe Deleault (keyboards in MSM's band) but is recognizably a song that Sam has made his own. Furthermore, he had a cameo in the film, singing it! To top it of, Sam recorded another CD called "Too Much Jesus (Not Enough Whiskey)", released in 2012 through his own label.

Mighty Sam McClain passed away on June 15, 2015, after having suffered a stroke in April 2015. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.