Mike McClure

Mike McClure
Born July 6, 1971
Origin Tecumseh, Oklahoma, USA
Genres Rock, Country, Red Dirt
Years active 1992-present
Labels 598 Recordings
Associated acts The Great Divide
Cross Canadian Ragweed
Jason Boland & the Stragglers
Stoney LaRue
Turnpike Troubadours
Tom Skinner
Bob Childers
Garth Brooks
Jimmy LaFave
Website http://www.mikemcclureband.com - http://mikemcclureband.net

Mike McClure (born July 6, 1971) is a singer/songwriter/producer from Tecumseh, Oklahoma.[1] He is currently the frontman for the Mike McClure Band. McClure is a founding member of The Great Divide, and was a member until he and the band parted ways in 2002. The Mike McClure Band consists of McClure (guitar, vocals), Tom Skinner (bass), and Eric Hansen (drums).[2]

McClure got his start in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and would hang out and play music at the notorious "Farm" with other Red Dirt artists such as Bob Childers, Tom Skinner, and Scott Evans. After forming The Great Divide with J.J. Lester, Scotte Lester, and Kelley Green in 1992 and contributing to six studio albums and one live two-part album, McClure set out to do his own thing.[3]

In 2002, while still a member of The Great Divide, he released Twelve Pieces, his first solo album.First there was Les Paul Clanton on bass and Rodney Payett on guitar. Both went to do other projects. After recruiting Skinner and Hansen, McClure had his band together. In 2004, The Mike McClure Band released their first album Everything Upside Down, a hard-hitting rock album. McClure often uses the quote that his new band is "twice as loud, and half as popular." [4] Since the first album, the band has put out seven more albums, including the 2004 collaboration with the Burtschi Brothers of Norman, Oklahoma.

As a songwriter and producer, McClure has collaborated with many other Red Dirt artists. He has become the permanent producer for Cross Canadian Ragweed. Usually contributing also as a songwriter, he has produced five of their seven studio albums, jokingly earning him the title of "prodouchebag."[5] McClure has also produced albums by other artists around the scene such as Stoney LaRue, Jason Boland & the Stragglers, Scott Copeland, Johnny Cooper, Whiskey Myers, and the Turnpike Troubadours.

In 2011 McClure became partners with C.P. Sparkman, also from Tecumseh, Oklahoma, in forming 598 Recordings. A record label whose first signing was The Damn Quails, releasing "Down the Hatch" and McClure's "50 Billion" respectively.

Contents

Discography

Year Album
2002 Twelve Pieces
2004 Everything Upside Down
2004 The Burtschi Brothers & The Mike McClure Band
2005 Camelot Falling
2006 Foam
2008 did7
2009 Onion
2010 Zero Dark 30
2010 Halfway Out Of The Woods
2011 "50 Billion" ]

Notable Appearances

"I'd Rather Have Nothing", written by McClure and originally recorded by The Great Divide was recorded by Garth Brooks for his 2005 Limited Series Box Set on the album The Lost Sessions. It has sold over 2 million copies.

"Fighting For", written by McClure and Cody Canada reached #39 on the Billboard Top 40 singles chart. It was recorded by Cross Canadian Ragweed for their album "Garage".

McClure has been working with Joe Hardy since "Foam".

2011 started record label with C.P. Sparkman. 598 Recordings signing their first act, The Damn Quails.

Reunited with all original members of The Great Divide in August 2011 for a reunion concert in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The band plans to tour lightly throughout 2012.

References

External links