NEWTON — The Newton Theatre announces the addition of the venerable Delbert McClinton to the schedule on Saturday, May 18. Tickets for this performance are on sale now.
Grammy award winning Delbert McClinton is a blend of Blues, Rock and Country music. The singer-songwriter, guitarist, harmonica player, and pianist has had a long career including (Blues) chart topping albums and legendary live performances.
McClinton's early memories include going as a child with his parents to see Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys at The Cotton Club in Lubbock, Tex., where he was born. His family moved to Ft. Worth when McClinton was 11. It was here that Delbert mastered the craft of keeping the hard-drinking rednecks, cowpokes and roustabouts entertained all night long. And at the legendary Skyliner Ballroom, where McClinton's band was the only white act to play its Blue Monday nights and be the backing band for the headliners, he received a first-class tutelage from the masters of blues music like Jimmy Reed, Howlin' Wolf and Sonny Boy Williamson.
McClinton cut a number of local and regional singles before hitting the national charts in 1962 playing harmonica on Bruce Channel's now classic Hey! Baby. On a subsequent package tour of England, Delbert showed some of his harp licks to the rhythm guitarist for a young band at the bottom of the bill. The lessons he gave John Lennon were later heard in hit singles by The Beatles.
In the early 1970s, McClinton and his Ft. Worth pal Glen Clark headed out to Los Angeles, where they cut two then obscure but now prized albums for Atlantic Records as Delbert & Glen. Returning to Texas, he landed a deal with ABC Records. With the release of his 1975 solo debut, Victim of Life's Circumstances, McClinton firmly stamped his Ft. Worth-bred blend of blues, country and blue-eyed soul onto the pop musical landscape. A succession of influential and critically acclaimed albums followed, along with coups like appearing on “Saturday Night Live."
His biggest break came when he was tapped for a duet with Bonnie Raitt, the result, Good Man, Good Woman, brought McClinton his first Grammy which suddenly raised his profile tenfold. He capitalized with his 1992 album Never Been Rocked Enough, which featured not only his duet with Raitt, but also guest appearances from Tom Petty and Melissa Etheridge, and his biggest hit single since 1980, Every Time I Roll the Dice. Later that year, he hit the country charts with another duet, this time with Tanya Tucker on Tell Me About It.
He scored other hits like Giving It Up For Your Love and Sandy Beaches, and over the years has enjoyed covers of his songs by Emmylou Harris, The Blues Brothers, Vince Gill, Wynonna, Martina McBride, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, among others.
Tickets for Delbert McClinton will be $64 for premium seating, $54 for orchestra and $44 for balcony and will be on sale on at thenewtontheatre.com or call the box office at 973-383-3700. Newton Theatre is located at 234 Spring Street in Newton.