O. B. McClinton

Obie Burnett "O. B." McClinton (April 25, 1940 September 23, 1987) was a Black country music singer and songwriter. The second-youngest child born to Rev. G. A. McClinton, a clergyman and farmer who owned a 700-acre (2.8 km2) ranch near Memphis, Tennessee. Listening to Hank Williams as a child around the age of 9 or 10 sparked his interest in performing country music.

O. B. McClinton
Birth nameObie Burnett McClinton
BornApril 25, 1940
OriginSenatobia, Mississippi
DiedSeptember 23, 1987(1987-09-23) (aged 47)
GenresCountry
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter
InstrumentsVocals, guitar
Years active1972–1987
LabelsEnterprise
Mercury
Epic
Sunbird
Moon Shine

Before beginning his country music career, he tried to break into R&B. Although he was unable to secure a recording contract as a soul singer himself, he did pen several songs recorded by James Carr, including the title songs to Carr's albums You Got My Mind Messed Up and A Man Needs a Woman.

Known to refer to himself as the "Chocolate Cowboy", McClinton successfully marketed his album called The Only One on television long before the practice was commonplace. Featuring his first country chart single "Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You", a top 40 song in 1972, he considered it to be his finest work.

He died on September 23, 1987, after a year-long battle with abdominal cancer.

Discography

Albums

Year Album US Country Label
1971 O.B. McClinton Country Enterprise
1973 Obie From Senatobie Enterprise
1973 Live at Randy's Rodeo Enterprise
1974 If You Loved Her That Way Enterprise
1981 The Chocolate Cowboy Lakeshore Music
1986 O.B. McClinton Hometown
1987 The Only One 55 Epic
1988 Just For You CBS/Hometown

Singles

Year Single Chart Positions Album Label
US Country CAN Country US Cashbox Country Singles US Record World Country Singles
1964 "Tradin' Stamps"† singles only Beale Street
1965 "The Day The World Cried"† Goldwax
"She's Better Than You"±
1966 "Trying To Make It"†
1971 "Country Music, That's My Thing" O.B. McClinton Country Enterprise
"Bad Guys Don't Always Wear Black Hats"
1972 "Deep In The Heart Of Me"
"Six Pack of Trouble" 70 57 Obie From Senatobie
"Don't Let the Green Grass Fool You" 37 72 31 38
1973 "My Whole World Is Falling Down" 36 39 35
"I Wish It Would Rain" 67 59 57
"You Don't Miss Your Water" single only
"The Unluckiest Songwriter In Nashville" 85 Obie From Senatobie
1974 "Something Better" 62 71 65 If You Loved Her That Way
"If You Loved Her That Way" 86 87
"Blind, Crippled and Crazy" singles only
"Yours and Mine" 77 84 72
1975 "The Most Wanted Woman (Is An Unloved Wife)"
"Just In Case" Mercury
1976 "It's So Good Lovin' You" 100 71
"Black Speck" 103
"Let's Just Celebrate The Temporary"
1977 "Country Roots" ABC/Dot
"Talk To My Children's Mama"
1978 "Hello, This Is Anna" (w/ Peggy Jo Adams) 90 84 89 Epic
"Natural Love" 82 73 76
1979 "The Real Thing" 79 66 72
"Soap" 58 46 53
1980 "Not Exactly Free"‡ 62 77 75 The Chocolate Cowboy Sunbird
1984 "Honky Tonk Tan" 69 Just For You Moonshine
1986 "Everybody's Talking About Ol' Herb ("The Whopper Song")" single only Track
1987 "Turn the Music On" 61 The Only One Epic
"Still A Wanted Man"

† "Oboe"
± "Oboe with The Keys"
‡ "O.B. McClinton (The Chocolate Cowboy)"

References

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