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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.

Birth and Death Data: Born December 29, 1903 (Ashland), Died June 11, 1990 (Memphis)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1931 - 1939

Roles Represented in DAHR: trumpet, leader, vocalist, lyricist, composer, songwriter

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 62 records)

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  
(Results 1-25 of 62 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "McCoy, Clyde," accessed April 19, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104373.

McCoy, Clyde. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 19, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104373.

"McCoy, Clyde." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 19 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104373

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