Thomas McClary (musician)

Thomas McClary
Thomas McClary, founder of The Commodores
Background information
Born (1949-10-06) October 6, 1949
Eustis, Florida, United States
Genres Soul, R&B, Funk, Gospel
Occupation(s) Guitarist
Songwriter
Singer
Record producer
Instruments Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Ukulele, Vocals
Years active 1968–present
Labels Motown Records
Associated acts The Commodores
Website http://www.thomasmcclary.com/

Thomas McClary (born October 6, 1949) is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, and record producer best known as one of the founders and lead guitarist of The Commodores. He claims to have created the signature sound of The Commodores' original music.

Early life

McClary was born in Eustis, Florida, in 1949. He became one of the first African-American students to integrate the Florida school system prior to the enforcement of Brown v. Board of Education. McClary began playing music at a very early age, starting with the ukulele and then adding the acoustic guitar and later the electric guitar to his repertoire. After graduation, McClary went to college at Tuskegee University in Alabama where he majored in business.[1]

Career

As a freshman student at Tuskegee University, McClary met Lionel Richie in the registration line. The two became friends and in 1968 they began to put together a band which they called The Mystics. McClary played the lead guitar and, early on, shared in the lead vocals. The group played local gigs then added more members and changed their name to the Commodores. In 1972, McClary and the Commodores signed with Berry Gordy and Motown Rec[2]ords.

McClary spent 15 years as the lead guitarist, songwriter, co-producer, co-arranger (along with James Carmichael) for the Commodores.. His guitar solo in the Commodores song "Easy" is a classic which earned him his first write-up in Rolling Stone Magazine and was called "one of the best solo guitar performances of all time" by writer Dave Thompson.[1] While with the Commodores, McClary and Richie wrote thirty two of the ninety songs recorded on ten studio albums including the group's first number one single "Slippery When Wet". This innovative song became the template for the hit "Play that funky Music" by the group Wild Cherry. "Brick House","Too Hot ta Trot",and "I Feel Sanctified" are among the many songs McClary co-wrote with the Commodores as a group. The Commodores classic Jazz instrumental "Cebu" is another illustration of McClary's diversified writing styles. He sang lead on "Sexy Lady" and "Ooo Woman You" (a duet with Melissa Manchester). Songs like "Flying High", "Come Inside", "High On Sunshine", "Girl, I Think the World About You", "Midnight Magic", "12:01 A.M.", "Got To Be Together", "Wake Up Children", "Funny Feelings", "Heaven Knows", "Won't You Come Dance With Me", "Visions", "Hold On" and "Free" "Welcome Home" (with Bill Champlin), "You Don't Know That I Know", "Let's Get Started", "Time", "Captured", "Celebrate" (with Larry Davis and Harold Hudson), "Saturday Night" and "Keep On Taking Me Higher" (with Harold Hudson).[1]established The Commodores as an act that fans would put the album on and just let it play the entire album

.

McClary's musical influence then moved outside of just The Commodores. From the Endless Love soundtrack, he co-wrote (with Lionel Richie) "Dreaming of You" which was performed by Richie and Diana Ross as well as Kenny Rogers' "Without You In My Life". Another was the track "Steam Room" off of "Jayne Kennedy's" Complete Exercise Program. McClary co-wrote and produced multiple songs for the 1980s pop group "Klique's"album Try It Out (one of which was "Stop Dogging Me Around" which became the #1 song on the Black Contemporary Charts")[3] and "Love Circles". McClary also co-wrote and produced four songs for bassist Michael Henderson's popular Fickel album.

After deciding not to perform with the remnant of remaining Commodores in 1984, McClary signed a solo contract with Motown and the following year released a solo album titled, Thomas McClary, which featured the popular single "Thin Walls" that climbed to #57 on the "Billboard R&B chart".[2]

In 1986 McClary returned to Florida and turned to his Christian roots by becoming the music director of his church and forming a gospel music record label[4] under which he released the 2008 album titled A Revolution Not a Revival.

In 2016 during litigation with the two of the original remaining members of The Commodores it was established without opposition or controverted testimony, that Thomas McClary is the Founder of The Commodores.

On September 18, 2017, McClary's memoir "Rock and Soul, was released

Solo discography

  • 1984 – Thomas McClary (Motown)
  • 2008 – A Revolution Not a Revival (CDBY)

Filmography

See also

References

  1. ↑ Thompson, Dave. "Funk". Backbeat Books. 2001. Page 110 – 114. ISBN 0-87930-629-7.
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