We are raising a glass and turning up the volume for the one and only Delbert McClinton, born on November 4th in Lubbock, Texas. A man whose voice carries the grit of the road and the soul of the blues. For decades, Delbert has been bridging the worlds of rock, country, and rhythm and blues with that unmistakable Texas swagger that only he can deliver.
I’ve spun a lot of records over the years, but Delbert’s always hits different. His sound isn’t polished or overproduced: it’s honest, lived-in, and full of fire. Songs like “Giving It Up for Your Love” and “Two More Bottles of Wine” remind us that music doesn’t need flash when it’s got heart. Delbert’s voice… rough like worn leather yet smooth as good whiskey… cuts right through the noise and lands deep in your chest.
I’ll never forget the first time I heard him. Poppa BamBam, back in his rock and roll DJ days, dropped one of Delbert’s tracks during a late-night set. I didn’t even know who it was, but I knew I was hooked. Poppa grinned and said, “That’s Delbert McClinton, son… real deal Texas soul right there.” He wasn’t wrong, no!…