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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

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 leader, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 63580 10-in. 4/11/1938 Blue fantasy Clyde McCoy Orchestra leader, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 63581 10-in. 4/1/1938 One more dream Clyde McCoy Orchestra leader, instrumentalist, trumpet  
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 leader, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 63584 10-in. 4/11/1938 Blue prelude Clyde McCoy Orchestra leader, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 65988 10-in. 7/19/1939 Don't look now Clyde McCoy Orchestra leader, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 65989 10-in. 7/19/1939 You are my dream Clyde McCoy Orchestra leader, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 65990 10-in. 7/19/1939 Shades of gray Clyde McCoy Orchestra leader, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 65991 10-in. 7/19/1939 A lonely gondolier Clyde McCoy Orchestra leader, instrumentalist, trumpet  
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 leader, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca C 9763 10-in. 1/31/1935 Sugar blues Clyde McCoy Orchestra leader, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca C 9764 10-in. 1/31/1935 I've found a new baby Clyde McCoy Orchestra leader, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca C 9765 10-in. 1/31/1935 Japanese sandman Clyde McCoy Orchestra leader, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca C 9766 10-in. 1/31/1935 China boy Clyde McCoy Orchestra leader, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca C 9767 10-in. 1/31/1935 Tea for two Clyde McCoy Orchestra leader, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca C 9960 10-in. 4/25/1935 Hillbilly Willie's blues Clyde McCoy leader, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca C 9961 10-in. 4/25/1935 There' ll be some changes made Clyde McCoy leader, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca C 9962 10-in. 4/25/1935 Twelfth Street rag Clyde McCoy leader, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca C 9963 10-in. 4/25/1935 Whispering Clyde McCoy leader, instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca C 9964 10-in. 4/25/1935 Dry ice Clyde McCoy leader, instrumentalist, trumpet  
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 November 22, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/104373.

McCoy, Clyde. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 22, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/104373.

"McCoy, Clyde." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 22 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/104373

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