The Lubbock, Tex., born Delbert McClinton signed on Tuesday to headline the 14th annual Blind Willie McTell Blues Festival on May 12, according to Don Powers of the Thomson Activities Council.
"When we started looking around for an artist who might bring in the same sort of crowd that Chuck Leavell brought last year, the obvious answer was Delbert," Mr. Powers said. "So we actually started working with his management last year and finalized it (Tuesday). Blues fans will love him, and we're betting that folks who like all sorts of music that springs from the blues will attend as well."
According to Mr. McClinton's biography on newwestrecords.com - his record label's website - he "became immersed in a whirl of Western swing, blues, jazz, rock and country sounds that abounded in dance halls and honky tonks" in Fort Worth where he grew up.
The website also states that Mr. McLinton, who was deeply influenced by the blues, has played along side many of his heroes such as Lightnin' Hopkins, Joe Turner, Sonny Boy Williams, Jimmy Reed, B.B. King, and Bobby Blue Bland.
