A TRIBUTE to MIGHTY SAM McCLAIN

  Known at one point in his life even as Good Rockin’ Sam – actually about fifty-five years ago –, Mr. Samuel McClain has lived a colourful life. The toughest times fell on the late 50s and especially late 70s and early 80s, but since his ’92 CD, Give It up to Love (on AudioQuest), musically everything fell into place and gradually Sam’s distinctive sound became more widely recognized and the appreciation for his artistry started growing. Now after numerous successful albums he’s ranked as one of the leading bluesoul singer-songwriters.

  I met Sam for the first time at the Rauma Blues Festival in Finland in 1998, when we went through his whole career.  You’ll find the in-depth feature at http://www.soulexpress.net/mightysam.htm. After that we met still twice during his concerts in my home town of Espoo, Finland. One interview took place in 2006 and was based on his CD, Betcha Didn’t Know ( www.soulexpress.net/deep106.htm). The last published interview with Sam I conducted over the phone after the release of his Too Much Jesus (Not Enough Whisky) CD in 2012 ( www.soulexpress.net/deep4_2012.htm#mightysam).

I remember Sam as a kind and humorous man, a big man with a big heart... but also determined. We discussed various matters. Sam told me, how he tried to help his old friend ever since the 60s, Oscar Toney Jr., in re-launching his career – excited, Oscar accidentally stepped on Sam’s toes on the stage – and I tried to persuade him to cut a country-soul CD... being a big fan of his late 60s Amy product and his mid-80s Orleans recordings.  Sam also told me, how he loved his present peaceful life in New Hampshire.  That’s why it was a shock to read that in the morning of June 16, at the age of 72, Sam passed away due to complications after his severe stroke in early April.  Now Sam is in peace.

Heikki Suosalo