His birthday was November 4, and he is humbled and honored, and in some cases, laughing out loud at the birthday greetings. The memories are flowing. From Soap Creek Saloon to Carnegie Hall, a lot of songs, great memories, and plenty of miles have gone into the last sixty-plus years of music. About the picture: The Show Must Go On!
On Delbert's 75th birthday in 2015, he and the band were on the way to perform at The Birchmere in Alexandria, when the bus had a major breakdown in rural Pennsylvania.
The crew rented a U-Haul and started driving with the equipment. Delbert & the band took cabs to the train station where this photo was taken. The concert started on time. This picture was taken in the Harrisburg, PA Amtrak Station - and this tour was forever remembered as the Amtrak Tour!
(Photo by Molly Reed)
We put together a birthday video montage that received so much response we divided it into two parts. You will laugh and maybe even shed a tear or two as you see a few of his friends wish a happy birthday!
You can view it here:
Sirius Outlaw Channel 60 - Saturday Night Delbert McClinton on the Steve Earle Show
Happy 80th Birthday Delbert McClinton!! Hear him talk to Steve Earle about winning a Grammy for his latest album, "Tall, Dark & Handsome" on "Hardcore Troubadour Radio" episode premiering this weekend. The show premiers on Saturday 11/7, at 9 pm ET on Sirius Channel 60. Preview here: https://www.facebook.com/SiriusXMOutlawCountry/videos/360342325273824
Peter Guralnick's Looking To Get Lost: Adventures in Music and Writing
"Peter Guralnick’s new book Looking to Get Lost: Adventures in Music and Life is a slow read — slow because it’s impossible not to keep stopping and listening to music. As good a writer as Guralnick is, he would be the first to argue that there is no substitute for listening. After reading his essay on Skip James, I lost a solid two hours on Spotify. Many of the blues and country artists he covers in this collection— Robert Johnson, Ray Charles, Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Howlin’ Wolf, Tammy Wynette, Chuck Berry, [Delbert McClinton]— are huge figures, but because Guralnick is such a fine-grained storyteller and so driven by a deep passion for the music, even familiar characters emerge in a revealing new light."
- Hugo Lindgren, GQ, Oct. 30, 2020
Craig Garber's "Everyone Loves Guitar" interview put the spotlight on Delbert last month. Click the arrow above to enjoy!
"By 1959, Delbert and the Straitjackets were the house band at Jack's Place, a popular nightclub on the Mansfield Highway just outside the Fort Worth city limits. Delbert was picking up the harmonica and learning from the headliners who came through. He says, 'The first time I really focused on making my sound was on the way to rehearsal one afternoon. I was at the corner of Sylvania and something. I was stopped at a red light, listening to KNOK Radio. Jimmy Read came on with Honest I Do. From that moment on, I was all about harmonica blues.'"
- From Delbert McClinton: One of the Fortunate Few (Texas A&M University Press, 2017, 2020)
Photo by Bob Seaman
What's for lunch? Delbert McClinton's Tuna Salad
2 cans tuna, packed in water
1 medium White Onion – chopped
1 Gala or Fuji Apple – chopped
1 large Dill Pickle – chopped
1 hard-boiled Egg – chopped
1 stalk Celery – strings removed & chopped
2 T Dill Pickle juice
½ t Chinese yellow mustard
¼ - ½ cup Mayonnaise to taste
Pepper (optional)
Drain the tuna and place in a medium bowl. Flake with a fork. Add onion, apple, pickle, egg, and celery. In another bowl, mix together the pickle juice, Chinese mustard, mayonnaise and pepper. Gently fold the dressing into the tuna mixture until blended.
Serve on bread, over lettuce, or with tostadas or crackers. May be kept covered in the refrigerator for up to two days.
Doug Sahm Tribute
About a year ago, Delbert participated in a Tribute to Doug Sahm at the Country Music Hall of Fame, with Shawn Sahm, an all-star band, and a long list of special guests. Delbert performs "Texas Me" at about 1:25 into the video, but you won't want to miss this tribute to our late friend, Doug Sahm. (Warning you will likely stay on the CMHOF site for a while. It is filled with great clips and material.) Go to this page and click on Performance and Panel Discussion: Texas Tornado: Tribute to Doug Sahm. https://countrymusichalloffame.org/plan-your-visit/exhibits-activities/public-programs/americana/
Coming Soon New Chapters
New Material
Delbert McClinton:
One of the Fortunate Few
2nd Edition
in paperback
from Texas A&M University Press
(2020).
Who remembers Nuevo Laredo and the Cadillac Bar?
Our friend, Wanda Garner Cash is the daughter of Porter Garner, Jr. who ran the Cadillac Bar from 1946 until 1979. Wanda has a new book, Pancho Villa's Saddle at the Cadillac Bar, coming out in November (Texas A&M University Press).
Filled with photos, recipes and stories, step into the Cadillac Bar and take a seat. You’ll want to stay awhile. More details coming next month! Preorder now.
Singing in
the Car We can all use a little Hank Williams this month. Delbert and Delaney are "Settin' The Woods
On Fire."
Who doesn't love just being daffy and dilly once in a while?
(Click on the image for the video)
Extra! Extra! Read All About It
If you received this as a forwarded email or on
social media, please CLICK HERE
to subscribe to our monthly (and sometimes even twice/monthly!)
news about
Delbert McClinton and Co.
Also check out our social media pages listed below.
