ArtistInfo

Jerry McCain

voc, h, 1930-2012 US, Gadsden, Alabama
Blues

American electric blues harmonica player, born 18 June 1930, died 28 March 2012. Jerry McCain was born on June 19, 1930 in Gadsden, AL. One of five children, he grew up "po' as po' can be" as he puts it. In his teens he earned a regular gig at a local station WETO fronting a jug band! Jerry made a homemade bass. The strings were made out of an inner tube. Jerry was influenced by Little Walter. In fact he met and proceeded to impress the old curmudgeon (then a young curmudgeon) when he covered Walter's "Can't Hold Out Much Longer". Boogie's break came when Lillian McMurry of Diamond Recording, Inc heard his demo and decided to check out Jerry and his band (which included Chris Carter on guitar, Herman Fowlkes on bass, Dave Campbell on piano and Bernard Williams on tenor sax). McMurry was impressed enough to have Jerry cut four sides in October 1953. "Wine O' Wine" and "East Of The Sun" from the session were released on Trumpet Records, home of Elmore James . But it wasn't until a year later that Jerry recorded again with "Stay Out Of Automobiles".

Instruments

• Vocals
• Harmonica
• Harp

Genres

• Blues
• R&B/Soul
• Rock

Plays With