Bobby McClure

Soul singer Bobby McClure entered the world on April 21, 1942, in Chicago, Illinois. His family had shifted to St. Louis by the time he turned two, and at nine he started performing in church. His strong tenor voice soon drew notice, leading him to join prominent local gospel ensembles such as the Soul Stirrers during Sam Cooke’s tenure as lead vocalist. McClure soon explored R&B and doo-wop as well, refining his skills alongside groups like Bobby and the Vocals, drummer Big Daddy Jenkins’ ensemble, and bandleader Oliver Sain’s unit. He also guided two rising talents, Little Milton and Fontella Bass, both of whom later built substantial careers; in 1965 McClure and Bass cut the duet “Don’t Mess Up a Good Thing,” which reached the U.S. Top 40.

In the 1960s McClure returned to Chicago and collaborated with Otis Clay and Little Milton before settling again in St. Louis, where he partnered with Shirley Brown and issued several singles on the Memphis-based Hi label. Although he released a handful of singles during the 1980s, McClure largely stepped away from music to serve as a corrections officer at an Illinois penitentiary. The pull of performance eventually drew him to Los Angeles, where he performed and recorded with fellow musicians. His career ended abruptly on November 13, 1992, when, at age fifty, he suffered a stroke following a brain aneurysm.