Delbert McClinton, Texas Roots Musician, Enjoying Retirement
by Best Classic Bands Staff
Delbert McClinton, in an undated photo from his Facebook page
Delbert McClinton, the Texas roots musician who enjoyed a banner year in 2020 when he turned 80 and earned his fourth Grammy Award, continues to enjoy his retirement. He turned 84 on November 4, 2024.
He announced his retirement on April 22, 2021, when he noted that for the first time in six decades, the Americana and blues performer had been off the stage for more than a year.
“Here I sit, 80 years old, in the middle of a pandemic,” he wrote on his Facebook page. “This is not how I envisioned playing out my final years as an entertainer. Music has been my total being for my whole life. I had been considering finishing this year with a modest number of shows. But the more I thought about it, and the more obstacles that have been placed in front of me, the less my heart was in it.”
He continued: “I don’t want to get up in front of audiences who might be the cause of my incapacity or death just because I want to play music. I don’t want to listen to anyone who won’t wear a mask or get a vaccine. We all have different values and they are inarguable.”
In modest fashion, he added, “I have had a decent career, and I have accomplished more than I ever dreamed I would. With that in mind, this is a good time to retire.”
McClinton still gives the occasional performance as he will on the 2025 edition of the Sandy Beaches Cruise, which he founded. He’s scheduled to host such acts as Los Lobos, Jimmie Vaughan, the Mavericks, and many others. (It’s sold-out but there’s a waitlist.)
McClinton earned his fourth Grammy in 2020 for Best Traditional Blues album for Tall, Dark & Handsome, made with his band, Self-Made Men + Dana. His big year also included the Americana Lifetime Achievement Award.
“I’m leaving the stage with no regrets,” he wrote. “I’ve done all that I set out to do and more. Retirement will allow me to enjoy my family and travel a bit as it becomes safer. It’s been a great ride.”
McClinton was born on Nov. 4, 1940, in Lubbock, Tex., and moved with his family to Fort Worth. After several album releases in the early 1970s, he earned his first real acclaim for penning “Two More Bottles of Wine,” a #1 country single for Emmylou Harris in 1978. His sole mainstream success was with his 1980 song, “Giving It Up For Your Love,” a #8 pop hit from the album, The Jealous Kind.
Watch him perform the song at Farm Aid in 1985
He earned the first of his four Grammys in 1992 for Best Rock Performance by a Duo for his recording, “Good Man, Good Woman,” with Bonnie Raitt.
Many of McClinton’s recordings are available here.
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5 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationI love the site. Have shared it with many of my boomer LN colleagues. We all agree it is terrific. My only wish is there would be more frequent book reviews. But I understand that is easier said than done. Keep it up! Andy P
Time to take it easy & enjoy your life; thank you for all the years – what a road warrior!
If you like Delbert, you should check out Seth James. He’s like a younger Delbert. Great singer with a few albums out and just released an entire album of Delbert tunes. Oh, and Delbert likes him.
B-movie Boxcar Blues. ‘Nuff said.
I wrote a follow-up to “When Rita Leaves” which I call “Well Rita’s Back” which I’d love to send to Delbert for his comments.
I’m retired and now in my spare time I’ve begun writing songs. I’ve written songs in my spare time since I was a kid but only recently begun putting them down on paper and on video.
Keeps me from going crazy in my so-called “Golden Years”