“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, loving every bit of that attention!

He left home when he was thirteen to escape an abusive stepfather 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 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 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. 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 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 the momentum continued to build with “Sledgehammer Soul and Down Home Blues“. In 1998 Sam had two releases, “