Bobby McClure (April 21, 1942 – November 13, 1992) – Love's Coming Down On Me (1970)

Written and produced for McClure by Chicago soul legend James Vanleer, this magnificent rare soul funk jam was released on his Cedric Records label.

Bobby McClure was a soul singer who sang with Sam Cooke in the 1950s, had a few R&B hits in the mid-60s, and recorded for Willie Mitchell’s Hi Records in the 70s.

Born in Chicago but raised in St. Louis, MO, McClure joined famed gospel group the Soul Stirrers in the mid-1950s, which was then fronted by lead singer Sam Cooke. Like Cooke, by the late 50s McClure had left the group to pursue a secular music career.

For a time, he sang with multi-instrumentalist Oliver Sain. In the early 60s, McClure signed with Chess Records’ subsidiary Checker, where he released his first single “I’m Not Ashamed” in 1965. Written by Sain who also produced the record along with Roquel (aka Billy) Davis (not to be confused with Billy Davis Jr. of 5th Dimension fame) it did not chart.

Its B-side was the superb soul anthem “I'll Be True To You,” which would almost certainly have charted if the sides had been reversed. Davis, who helped revitalize Chess Records in the sixties as its A&R head, later produced the famous 1971 Coca-Cola jingle “I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony).”

McClure’s next two records were duets with singer Fontella Bass that helped launch her career. “You'll Miss Me (When I'm Gone)” was the B-side to “Don't Jump” and hit #27 R&B. “Don't Mess Up a Good Thing” became his biggest ever hit, peaking at #5 R&B and crossing over to #33 on the Billboard Hot 100.

In 1970, McClure teamed with Chicago soul legend James Vanleer. Together they came up with the magnificent jam “Love's Coming Down On Me.” It was written and produced by Vanleer, and released on his Cedric Records label.

In the mid-70s, McClure signed with Memphis-based Hi Records, run by Royal Studios owner Willie Mitchell, and released several singles on the label from 1976-78. The very best was the soul disco masterpiece “I Ain't Gonna Turn You Loose” (1977).

It was co-produced by Mitchell and Don “O’Mar” Boddie (aka the Grand Master Lover) and penned by prolific songwriter Earl Randle.

Sadly, Bobby McClure died much too young at age 50 after suffering a a brain aneurysm followed by a stroke in 1992.

#soul #funk #BobbyMcClure