Clyde McCoy
Clyde Lee McCoy (December 29, 1903 – June 11, 1990), was an American jazz trumpeter whose popularity spanned seven decades. He is best remembered for his theme song, "Sugar Blues", written by Clarence Williams and Lucy Fletcher, and also as a co-founder of Down Beat magazine in 1935. The song hit in 1931 and 1935, in Columbia and Decca versions, and returned to Billboard magazine's Country (Hillbilly) chart in 1941. It was also played with vocals, by Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys, Fats Waller and Ella Fitzgerald. Johnny Mercer had a vocal hit in 1947. McCoy was a member of one of the families of the Hatfield-McCoy feud, and was based at various times in Los Angeles, New York City, and at Chicago's Drake Hotel, where he first performed "Sugar Blues" in 1930. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6426 Hollywood Boulevard. |
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings
| Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | W151239 | 10-in. | 1/22/1931 | Readin', ritin', rhythm | Clyde McCoy Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and male vocal trio | leader | |
| Columbia | W151503 | 10-in. | 4/10/1931 | Black and tan fantasy | Clyde McCoy Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | leader | |
| Columbia | W151504 | 10-in. | 4/10/1931 | It looks like love | Clyde McCoy Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | leader | |
| Columbia | W151505 | 10-in. | 4/10/1931 | A lonely gondolier | Clyde McCoy Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | leader | |
| Columbia | W151506 | 10-in. | 4/10/1931 | The nightmare | Clyde McCoy Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | leader | |
| Columbia | W151763 | 10-in. | 9/2/1931 | Old fashioned love | Clyde McCoy Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | leader | |
| Columbia | W151764 | 10-in. | 9/2/1931 | Mood indigo | Clyde McCoy Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | leader | |
| Columbia | W151765 | 10-in. | 9/2/1931 | I've found a new baby | Clyde McCoy Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | leader | |
| Columbia | W151766 | 10-in. | 9/2/1931 | Creole love call | Clyde McCoy Orchestra | Jazz/dance band | leader | |
| Columbia | W152443 | 10-in. | 7/26/1933 | Smoke rings | Drake Hotel Orchestra ; Clyde McCoy | Jazz/dance band | leader | |
| Columbia | W152444 | 10-in. | 7/26/1933 | Some of these days | Drake Hotel Orchestra ; Clyde McCoy | Jazz/dance band | leader | |
| Columbia | W152445 | 10-in. | 7/26/1933 | In the cool of the night | Drake Hotel Orchestra ; Clyde McCoy ; Bud Prentiss | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | lyricist, leader | |
| Columbia | W152446 | 10-in. | 7/26/1933 | New Basin Street blues | Drake Hotel Orchestra ; Clyde McCoy ; Bud Prentiss | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | leader | |
| Columbia | W152447 | 10-in. | 7/26/1933 | It might have been a different story | Charles Kaley | Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | leader | |
| Columbia | W152448 | 10-in. | 7/26/1933 | I would if I could but I can't | Charles Kaley | Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band | leader | |
| Columbia | W152477 | 10-in. | 8/22/1933 | Nobody's sweetheart | Drake Hotel Orchestra ; Clyde McCoy | Jazz/dance band | leader | |
| Columbia | W152478 | 10-in. | 8/22/1933 | Wah-wah lament | Drake Hotel Orchestra ; Clyde McCoy | Jazz/dance band | leader | |
| Columbia | W152479 | 10-in. | 8/22/1933 | Way down yonder in New Orleans | Drake Hotel Orchestra ; Clyde McCoy | Jazz/dance band | leader | |
| Columbia | W152480 | 10-in. | 8/22/1933 | Tear it down | Drake Hotel Orchestra ; Clyde McCoy | Jazz/dance band | songwriter, leader | |
| Columbia | W152600 | 10-in. | 12/14/1933 | Business on the Q.T. | Drake Hotel Orchestra ; Clyde McCoy | Jazz/dance band | composer, leader | |
| Columbia | W152601 | 10-in. | 12/14/1933 | Little women (like you) | Drake Hotel Orchestra ; Clyde McCoy ; Bud Prentiss | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | leader | |
| Columbia | W152602 | 10-in. | 12/14/1933 | Palooka (It's a grand old American name) | Drake Hotel Orchestra ; Clyde McCoy | Jazz/dance band | leader | |
| Columbia | W152603 | 10-in. | 12/14/1933 | Like me a little bit less (love me a little bit more) | Drake Hotel Orchestra ; Clyde McCoy ; Bud Prentiss | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | leader | |
| Decca | 60063 | 10-in. | 10/14/1935 | I'm gonna play in the Varsity Band | Clyde McCoy Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
| Decca | 60064 | 10-in. | 10/14/1935 | The nightmare | Clyde McCoy Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
| Decca | 60065 | 10-in. | 10/14/1935 | Basin Street blues | Clyde McCoy Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
| Decca | 60924 | 10-in. | 3/24/1936 | Ridin' to glory on a trumpet | Clyde McCoy Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
| Decca | 60925 | 10-in. | 3/24/1936 | You gave me the run-a-round | Clyde McCoy Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
| Decca | 60926 | 10-in. | 3/24/1936 | Blue sugar | Clyde McCoy Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
| Decca | 60927 | 10-in. | 3/24/1936 | Roseland stomp | Clyde McCoy Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
| Decca | 61503 | 10-in. | 1/5/1937 | The Goona Goo | Clyde McCoy Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 61504 | 10-in. | 1/5/1937 | Black and tan fantasy | Clyde McCoy Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 61505 | 10-in. | 1/5/1937 | Mood indigo | Clyde McCoy Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 61506 | 10-in. | 1/5/1937 | When you're smiling | Clyde McCoy Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet, vocalist | ||
| Decca | 63579 | 10-in. | 4/11/1938 | The gypsy in my soul | Clyde McCoy Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet, leader | ||
| Decca | 63580 | 10-in. | 4/11/1938 | Blue fantasy | Clyde McCoy Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet, leader | ||
| Decca | 63581 | 10-in. | 4/1/1938 | One more dream | Clyde McCoy Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet, leader | ||
| Decca | 63582 | 10-in. | 4/11/1938 | Ten little miles from nowhere | Clyde McCoy Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet, leader | ||
| Decca | 63583 | 10-in. | 4/11/1938 | My pillow and me | Clyde McCoy Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet, leader | ||
| Decca | 63584 | 10-in. | 4/11/1938 | Blue prelude | Clyde McCoy Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet, leader | ||
| Decca | 65988 | 10-in. | 7/19/1939 | Don't look now | Clyde McCoy Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet, leader | ||
| Decca | 65989 | 10-in. | 7/19/1939 | You are my dream | Clyde McCoy Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet, leader | ||
| Decca | 65990 | 10-in. | 7/19/1939 | Shades of gray | Clyde McCoy Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet, leader | ||
| Decca | 65991 | 10-in. | 7/19/1939 | A lonely gondolier | Clyde McCoy Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet, leader | ||
| Decca | 90073 | 10-in. | 7/5/1935 | Rose room | Clyde McCoy Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
| Decca | 90074 | 10-in. | 7/5/1935 | Maple leaf rag | Clyde McCoy Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
| Decca | 90075 | 10-in. | 7/5/1935 | Oh baby | Clyde McCoy Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
| Decca | 90076 | 10-in. | 7/5/1935 | Some of these days | Clyde McCoy Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
| Decca | 90077 | 10-in. | 7/5/1935 | After you've gone | Clyde McCoy Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
| Decca | 90078 | 10-in. | 7/5/1935 | Farewell blues | Clyde McCoy Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet | ||
| Decca | C 9762 | 10-in. | 1/31/1935 | Tear it down | Clyde McCoy Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet, leader | ||
| Decca | C 9763 | 10-in. | 1/31/1935 | Sugar blues | Clyde McCoy Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet, leader | ||
| Decca | C 9764 | 10-in. | 1/31/1935 | I've found a new baby | Clyde McCoy Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet, leader | ||
| Decca | C 9765 | 10-in. | 1/31/1935 | Japanese sandman | Clyde McCoy Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet, leader | ||
| Decca | C 9766 | 10-in. | 1/31/1935 | China boy | Clyde McCoy Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet, leader | ||
| Decca | C 9767 | 10-in. | 1/31/1935 | Tea for two | Clyde McCoy Orchestra | instrumentalist, trumpet, leader | ||
| Decca | C 9960 | 10-in. | 4/25/1935 | Hillbilly Willie's blues | Clyde McCoy | instrumentalist, trumpet, leader | ||
| Decca | C 9961 | 10-in. | 4/25/1935 | There' ll be some changes made | Clyde McCoy | instrumentalist, trumpet, leader | ||
| Decca | C 9962 | 10-in. | 4/25/1935 | Twelfth Street rag | Clyde McCoy | instrumentalist, trumpet, leader | ||
| Decca | C 9963 | 10-in. | 4/25/1935 | Whispering | Clyde McCoy | instrumentalist, trumpet, leader | ||
| Decca | C 9964 | 10-in. | 4/25/1935 | Dry ice | Clyde McCoy | instrumentalist, trumpet, leader | ||
| Decca | C 9967 | 10-in. | 4/25/1935 | Wah-wah lament | Clyde McCoy | instrumentalist, trumpet, leader |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "McCoy, Clyde," accessed April 25, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104373.
McCoy, Clyde. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 25, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104373.
"McCoy, Clyde." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 25 April 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: McCoy, Clyde, 1903-1990 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n83176083
Wikidata: Clyde McCoy - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q1103685
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/7579310
MusicBrainz: Clyde McCoy - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/a228d528-1042-4ce7-9c69-14139d143221
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