Tommy McClennan

about

Tommy McClennan (January 4, 1905 – May 9, 1961) was an American Delta blues singer and guitarist. Tommy McClennan was born in Yazoo City in April of 1908, according to Big Bill Broonzy in his book "Big Bill Blues." However, McClennan's death certificate cites his birthplace as Durant (Holmes County) and the date as January 4, 1905." He played and sang blues in a rough, energetic style. He made a series of recordings for Bluebird Records from 1939 through 1942 and regularly played with his friend Robert Petway. He can be heard shouting in the background on Petway's 1942 recording "Boogie Woogie Woman". McClennan made an immediate impact in 1940 with his recordings of "Shake 'Em on Down", "Bottle It Up and Go", "Whiskey Head Woman" and "New Highway No.51". He left a powerful legacy that included "Cross Cut Saw Blues" later covered by Albert King, "My baby's gone" (covered and adapted by Moon Mullican), "Deep Blue Sea Blues" (aka "Catfish Blues"), and others whose lasting power has been evidenced through the repertoires and re-recordings of other artists. McClennan's "I'm A Guitar King" was included on the 1959 collection issued by Folkways Records, The Country Blues. His name was variously spelled McClinton, McLindon, McCleland, and McClenan on documents, although the McClennan spelling was used on all of his recordings. Other bluesmen remembered him from elsewhere in the Delta, including Bolivar County and Vance, but he was best known around Greenwood, where Booker Miller,

top songs

albums

Tommy McClennan Vol. 2 "Cross Cut Saw"

Tommy McClennan Vol. 1 "Whiskey Head Woman"

The Bluebird Recordings, 1939-1942

▥

Presenting Tommy McClennan

The Very Best Of

▥

Cross Cut Saw Blues 2 1940-1942

▥

Nick Cave's Jukebox: Songs That Inspired The Man

▥

Broadcasting the Blues: Black Blues in the Segregation Era (Compiled and Edited by Paul Oliver)

▥

Tommy McClennan, Vol.2: Cross Cut Saw

Cotton Pickin' Blues

Essential Delta Blues

Cotton Patch Blues

similar artists