[edit] Childhood & teen years
Charlotte Denise McClain… Read Full Bio ↴Early life
[edit] Childhood & teen years
Charlotte Denise McClain was born in Memphis, Tennessee in 1956. Originally named Charlotte, "Charly" was given her masculine moniker by neighborhood friends in Memphis, and she also used it when she started playing hotel lounges. When Epic Records decided it sounded catchier than Charlotte, it became a permanent professional banner. [1] McClain's father had tuberculosis when she was eight, and, since she was under age for visitation rights at the hospital, she had to communicate with him through a tape recorder. [2]
[edit] Career discovery
McClain's use of the tape recorder with her father inspired her interest in singing. McClain soon began performing in public regularly. She began singing in the club circuit by the time she was seventeen. She then gained a recording contract with Epic Records by the time McClain was almost twenty years old. She began her musical career at age 12 with her brother in a band called "Charlotte & The Volunteers" for 6 years. Her first appearance was on TV in Jackson, Tennessee, local station WBBJ morning show. She was a regular on local Memphis show "Mid-South Jamboree" from 1973-1975. [3]
Signed to her first recording contract in 1976, McClain's distinct vocal sound provided an edge in recognizability — as did her appearance. [4]
[edit] Country music career
[edit] 1976 – 1980: Country beginnings
McClain debuted in late 1976 with her first single, "Lay Me Down", which peaked at #67 on the Billboard Country Chart. McClain's first singles between 1976 through 1977, mainly from her debut album Here's Charly McClain, did not chart very high on the Country charts at the time. McClain's second album, titled Let Me Be Your Baby, was released in 1978. She hit country's Top Ten for the first time in 1978 with "That's What You Do to Me," [5] followed by two other Top 25 hits from the album, "Let Me Be Your Baby" and "Take Me Back".
McClain had a series of Top 20 hits between 1978 and 1980, including "When Love Ain't Right", "You're a Part of Me", and "I Hate the Way I Love It", a duet with Johnny Rodriguez. Occasionally McClain's singles would enter the Top 10. She had two Top 10 hits during this time, "That's What You Do to Me" (1978), followed by "Men", which peaked at #7 in 1980. However, McClain still hadn't achieved breakthrough success.
McClain released two albums between 1979 and 1980, Alone too Long (1979) and Women Get Lonely (1980).
[edit] 1981 – 1989: Breakthrough
McClain hit the top spot one year later with "Who's Cheatin' Who." [6] This brought McClain breakthrough success for the 1980s. In 1981, McClain had three Top 10 hits off her Surround Me With Love, the title track, "Sleepin' With the Radio on", and "The Very Best is You". McClain's albums were also beginning to become more successful as well. Her Who's Cheatin' Who album peaked at #9 on the "Top Country Albums" chart, as did her 1981 album, Surround Me With Love.
She stayed in the upper reaches during 1982 with "Dancing Your Memory Away" and "Sentimental Ol' You," then hit number one again in 1983 with her Mickey Gilley duet "Paradise Tonight." [7] "Paradise Tonight" became McClain's second #1 hit in 1983. McClain's and Gilley's duet partnership became so successful, they released a duet album the following year, It Takes Believers, which spawned the Top 5 hit, "Candy Man", which peaked at #5 on the Billboard Country Chart, followed by "The Right Stuff", which became a Top 15 hit.
McClain also acted occasionally, appearing as a guest star on such shows as Hart to Hart and CHiPs. McClain's lonely life on the road was also chronicled in a 1981 HBO special titled "So You Want to Be a Star."
McClain released another big-selling album in 1985, Radio Heart, after having a series of minor solo hits in 1984. The title track off became a #1 Country hit in 1985, McClain's last #1 hit to date. The album also spawned two other Top 10 hits that year. McClain married former soap star Wayne Massey in 1984, and their own duet ("With Just One Look in Your Eyes") reached number five. [8] The third single off the album was also a duet with Massey, "You Are My Music, You Are My Song." The album, Radio Heart peaked at #15 on the "Top Country Albums" chart in 1985, and became on of McClain's best-known songs.
McClain's success began to subside after 1986, as Country-pop styled music was becoming unfavorable on Country radio. Her 1987 album brought only one Top 40 single, "Don't Touch Me There", which peaked at #20 on the Billboard Country Chart. The other singles did not become as successful. The album became McClain's last album with Epic, as she parted ways with them the following year. She continued to chart until her last recording came in 1989.[9] She recorded one studio album with Mercury Records before the end of the decade. She charted until the end of 1989. Her last charted single was "You Got the Job", which peaked at #65.
[edit] 1990 – present: Current music career status
McClain has not recorded another studio album since 1989's self-titled album with Mercury, and thus has dropped out of the public eye. Since 1989, several compilation albums of her music have been released, including 1999's Anthology, which was a compilation CD of McClain's biggest hits under Epic, beginning with her late '70s hits to her last '80s hits.
McClain has not toured in the past ten years or so. As of 2007 she is still married to Wayne Massey.
[edit] Discography
Main article: Charly McClain discography
[edit] References
^ Charly McClain biography at All Music Guide.com; retrieved March 30, 2008
^ Charly McClain biography at All Music Guide.com; retrieved March 30, 2008
^ Charly McClain biography at her official website (Geocities.com)
^ Charly McClain biography at All Music Guide
^ Charly McClain biography at All Music Guide
^ Charly McClain biography at AOL.com
^ Charly McClain biography at AOL.com; retrieved March 30, 2008
^ Charly McClain biography at AOL.com
^ Charly McClain biography at All Music Guide.com
[edit] External links
Charly McClain Official Website
CMT.com: Charly McClain
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charly_McClain"
Radio Heart
Charly McClain Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But he couldn't take it
Now she's raisin' them on her own
Between the bills and the laundry
Sometimes she's so lonely she cries
But she's found an escape
From some of the achin' inside
She's got a radio heart
She loves the songs they play
They take him off her mind
She's got a radio heart
It helps fill an empty space he left behind
She gets lost in a steel guitar
Oh, it's her way out when the heartache starts
She's found a little salvation in a local station
She's got a radio heart
She'll finish clearin' the table
And put the kids off to bed
She tries to watch an old movie
But she thinks of him instead
She lies alone in the dark
And stares at the lighted dial
She gets into the music
And out of this world for a while
She's got a radio heart
She loves the songs they play
They take him off her mind
She's got a radio heart
It helps fill an empty space he left behind
She gets lost in a steel guitar
Oh, it's her way out when the heartache starts
She's found a little salvation in a local station
She's got a radio heart
She's got a radio heart
The lyrics of Charly McClain's song "Radio Heart" depict the story of a woman who got married at a young age and had two children by the time she was 21. However, her marriage did not work out, and she is now raising her kids all alone, trying to balance the bills and household chores. Even though she may feel alone and cry sometimes, she has found solace in listening to music on the radio. The songs they play help her forget about the ache inside and take him off her mind. The radio has become her way of escaping from reality for a while and filling the empty space her husband left behind.
The song portrays how music can have a tremendous impact on people's lives as it soothes their pain and helps them cope with their struggles. It also highlights the healing power of music and how it can be a source of comfort for someone going through a hard time. Moreover, the lyrics suggest that sometimes, even though people may feel lonely, they can find a sense of connection through music.
Line by Line Meaning
Married at 16, 2 kids by 21
At a very young age, she got married and had two children.
But he couldn't take it
However, her husband eventually left her alone to raise their children.
Now she's raisin' them on her own
As a result, she is bringing up her children alone without any help.
Between the bills and the laundry
She's juggling the responsibilities of running a household and paying the bills.
Sometimes she's so lonely she cries
The weight of loneliness can often make her break down in tears.
But she's found an escape
However, she has discovered a way to momentarily escape her pain.
From some of the achin' inside
Listening to the radio helps her alleviate some of the emotional pain that is eating away at her.
She's got a radio heart
Her love for radio has become an inseparable part of her being.
She loves the songs they play
She has an affectionate attachment to the songs that play on the radio.
They take him off her mind
Radio serves as a means of diverting her attention from thinking about her husband too much.
It helps fill an empty space he left behind
By providing her with mental relief, radio can help her manage the void created by her husband.
She gets lost in a steel guitar
She becomes fully immersed in the music and loses herself in its rhythms and sounds.
Oh, it's her way out when the heartache starts
The radio is a beacon of hope that helps her get away from the pain that she is experiencing.
She's found a little salvation in a local station
The local station is a saving grace that brings her peace and solace.
She'll finish clearin' the table
After taking care of all the household chores, she will finish cleaning up the table.
And put the kids off to bed
She puts her children to bed, in the hope of getting some time to herself.
She tries to watch an old movie
She attempts to watch a movie to kill time, but her thoughts keep drifting towards her past.
But she thinks of him instead
Her mind always ends up thinking about her missing husband.
She lies alone in the dark
In the quiet of the night, she is left alone with her thoughts.
And stares at the lighted dial
She fixes her gaze on the radio, which is a constant source of comfort to her.
She gets into the music
The music strikes a chord within her, and she immerses herself in its melody and lyrics.
And out of this world for a while
For a brief moment, she escapes her reality and loses herself in the music that's playing on the radio.
Lyrics © DistroKid, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DAVIS, MORGAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
dano barnes
What a talent!!!!!
Wyatt Earp
You just do NOT find artists like her anymore. Such a beautiful and unique voice. I had an old dial face radio and remember drifting off listening to her. Good memories.....
joe blow
Nothing like 1980's country. Best musical arrangements ever.
christine tarquin
I've loved this song from day 1 so much, that it's been my email forever.❤️ Charly McLain music!
mkl62
A #1 hit for Charly McClain on the Country & Western charts. It was the 756th #1 C&W song of the Rock Era.
Renee Butcher
I grew up on this song and i still love it today!!!!
Jerry Fleetwood
Love Charley McClain! Her music brings back good memories. Would love to hear her new songs.
Wayne Sanchez
Charly McClain was one of those very rare recording ARTISTS, whose girl-next-door-voice doesn't amaze you with its vocal range, yet it has a wonderful SINCERITY that makes everything she recorded sound REAL, SINCERE, draw you in,and hold you by the heart. I.just loved her product and wish current singers had the good sense to.cover her work.
Thevacomaticiec
right on spot
Glenn B
What a "lady" and a huge talent! Miss you Charly. :-)