Billy Earl McClelland


Billy Earl McClelland Died October 3, 2013 from complications after a heart attack at the East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika, Alabama, was an American session guitarist and songwriter.

Overview

September 19, 1950 - October 3, 2013 - McClelland left High School to go to Nashville, Tennessee, and was signed by a record label. As a session guitarist in Nashville, he worked with B.J. Thomas, Willie Nelson, Tony Joe White, Hank Snow, Townes Van Zandt, Brenda Lee, and Mel Tillis. He has written songs for Hank Williams Jr., Waylon Jennings, Jerry Jeff Walker, T.G. Sheppard, Sawyer Brown and Delbert McClinton.
Eventually, he released a rock-oriented record on Elektra. A second album, 'Ready or Not', remains unreleased by the label.
Later, McClelland moved to Memphis at the urging of Skip McQuinn. While there, his passion for the blues led him to produce the first Big Bill Morganfield recording, engineered by Mike Durff & Tyler Bell.
McClelland continues to be a regular in clubs and festivals throughout the Southeast. McClelland also worked with Bo Diddley and Albert Collins. His album Judgment Day received critical acclaim from all the major blues magazines.
McClelland helmed Mojo:Saint, a contemporary blues project, along with veteran drummer David Brazeal and bassist Jack Hall .
McClelland was inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.

Discography