Biography
Sam McClain, 15 April 1943, Monroe, Louisiana, USA. Raised as one of 13 children, McClain first began singing in his mother’s small gospel group when he was five, before starting work as a cotton picker. However, following disputes with his stepfather he ran away from home and the plantation at the age of 13. Eventually he found employment as valet to Little Melvin Underwood, taking over the singing role in his band when original vocalist Little Sonny Green left. The band settled in Penascola, Florida, where McClain started to sing with the Dothan Sextet. He remained their lead singer from 1963 to 1966. Disc jockey ‘Papa’ Don Schroeder ‘discovered’ McClain and signed him to the Bell Records subsidiary Amy, where the artist recorded eight singles. The Fame studio house band provided the perfect accompaniment to McClain’s rasping interpretations, which evoked those of Bobby Bland and Little Milton. Ballads such as ‘In The Same Old...
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