Pat McLaughlin
Encyclopedia
Pat McLaughlin is a singer/songwriter based in Nashville, TN.
He was raised in Waterloo, Iowa
, but moved to San Francisco, California
in the early 1970s. There McLaughlin began to write songs, playing alone at open mic nights and in the streets near the bay. After a brief stint in Boston, he moved to Nashville where he formed a band and released his first album in 1980. Two consecutive projects for Capital Records followed. His first major label album Pat McLaughlin made its debut in 1988.
In the late 1980s, McLaughlin experienced his first mainstream country music success when Steve Wariner
recorded McLaughlin's song "Lynda". Wariner's version climbed to the top of the charts, winning McLaughlin his first BMI Country Award in 1988. In 1992, Tanya Tucker
and Delbert McClinton
had a hit with McLaughlin's "Tell Me About It" — another BMI award resulted from this song. During his years in New Orleans, McLaughlin also released records produced by Jim Rooney (Hal Ketchum
) and Ben Keith (Neil Young
).
In 1997 along with former Subdudes members Tommy Malone and Johnny Ray Allen plus drummer Kenneth Blevins, McLaughlin formed Tiny Town. The quartet recorded one self-titled album, produced by Bernie Leadon
in 1998. McLaughlin's compositions have been recorded by artists including Bonnie Raitt
, Alan Jackson
, Taj Mahal
, Trisha Yearwood
, Al Kooper
, Nanci Griffith
, Josh Turner, Shawn Camp and Don Williams
.
Gary Allan recorded McLaughlin's "Songs About Rain" in 2003, securing yet another BMI Country Award for McLaughlin. Allan's 2010 release, 'Get off the Pain,' includes two McLaughlin co-writes: "I Think I've Had Enough" and "When You Give Yourself Away."
As a studio musician he has contributed guitar to projects by Jamie Hartford, Rosanne Cash
, Julie Roberts, Don Williams
, Al Cooper, Shawn Camp, Cowboy Jack Clement
, Neil Diamond
, Johnny Cash
and many more.
2010 has found McLaughlin continuing his monthly gigs at Douglas Corner Cafe in Nashville. In spring 2010 he was featured on "Jammin' at Hippie Jacks," which airs on select public television stations across the U.S. He has also been performing with songwriters Shawn Camp and Al Anderson (formerly of NRBQ) in a band called The World Famous Headliners. There has been some speculation that a World Famous Headliners CD will be released while McLaughlin's website also makes note that a solo CD and DVD are forthcoming.
In November 2010 Pat McLaughlin is appearing as an opening act with John Prine. Midway in John Prine's show, Pat joins in and participates as a member of the band. As an opener for Prine, Pat McLaughlin is very well received by those listening.
He was raised in Waterloo, Iowa
Waterloo, Iowa
Waterloo is a city in and the county seat of Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census the population decreased by 0.5% to 68,406. Waterloo is part of the Waterloo – Cedar Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area, and is the more populous of the two...
, but moved to San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
in the early 1970s. There McLaughlin began to write songs, playing alone at open mic nights and in the streets near the bay. After a brief stint in Boston, he moved to Nashville where he formed a band and released his first album in 1980. Two consecutive projects for Capital Records followed. His first major label album Pat McLaughlin made its debut in 1988.
In the late 1980s, McLaughlin experienced his first mainstream country music success when Steve Wariner
Steve Wariner
Steven Noel "Steve" Wariner is an American country music singer, songwriter and guitarist. He has released eighteen studio albums, including six on MCA Records, and three each on RCA Records, Arista Records and Capitol Records...
recorded McLaughlin's song "Lynda". Wariner's version climbed to the top of the charts, winning McLaughlin his first BMI Country Award in 1988. In 1992, Tanya Tucker
Tanya Tucker
Tanya Denise Tucker is a female American country music artist who had her first hit, "Delta Dawn", in 1972 at the age of 13...
and Delbert McClinton
Delbert McClinton
Delbert McClinton is an American blues rock and electric blues singer-songwriter, guitarist, harmonica player, and pianist....
had a hit with McLaughlin's "Tell Me About It" — another BMI award resulted from this song. During his years in New Orleans, McLaughlin also released records produced by Jim Rooney (Hal Ketchum
Hal Ketchum
Hal Michael Ketchum is an American country music artist. He has released ten studio albums since 1986, including nine for the Curb and Asylum-Curb labels. Ketchum's 1991 album Past the Point of Rescue is his most commercially successful, having been certified gold by the Recording Industry...
) and Ben Keith (Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
).
In 1997 along with former Subdudes members Tommy Malone and Johnny Ray Allen plus drummer Kenneth Blevins, McLaughlin formed Tiny Town. The quartet recorded one self-titled album, produced by Bernie Leadon
Bernie Leadon
Bernard Mathew "Bernie" Leadon, III is an American musician and songwriter, best known as a founding member of the Eagles. Prior to the Eagles, he was a member of two pioneering and highly influential country rock bands, Dillard & Clark and the Flying Burrito Brothers...
in 1998. McLaughlin's compositions have been recorded by artists including Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Lynn Raitt is an American blues singer-songwriter and a renowned slide guitar player. During the 1970s, Raitt released a series of acclaimed roots-influenced albums which incorporated elements of blues, rock, folk and country, but she is perhaps best known for her more commercially...
, Alan Jackson
Alan Jackson
Alan Eugene Jackson is an American country music singer, known for blending traditional honky tonk and mainstream country sounds and penning many of his own hits. He has recorded 13 studio albums, 3 Greatest Hits albums, 2 Holiday albums, 1 Gospel album and several compilations, all on the Arista...
, Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal (musician)
Henry Saint Clair Fredericks , who uses the stage name Taj Mahal, is an American Grammy Award winning blues musician. He incorporates elements of world music into his music...
, Trisha Yearwood
Trisha Yearwood
Patricia Lynn Yearwood, professionally known as Trisha Yearwood , is an American country music artist. She is best known for her ballads about vulnerable young women from a female perspective that have been described by some music critics as "strong" and "confident."Trisha Yearwood signed with MCA...
, Al Kooper
Al Kooper
Al Kooper is an American songwriter, record producer and musician, known for organizing Blood, Sweat & Tears , providing studio support for Bob Dylan when he went electric in 1965, and also bringing together guitarists Mike Bloomfield and Stephen Stills to...
, Nanci Griffith
Nanci Griffith
Nanci Griffith, is an American singer, guitarist and songwriter from Austin, Texas.-Biography:...
, Josh Turner, Shawn Camp and Don Williams
Don Williams
Don Williams , is an American country singer, songwriter and a 2010 inductee to the Country Music Hall of Fame. He grew up in Portland, Texas, and graduated in 1958 from Gregory-Portland High School. After seven years with the folk-pop group Pozo-Seco Singers, he began his solo career in 1971,...
.
Gary Allan recorded McLaughlin's "Songs About Rain" in 2003, securing yet another BMI Country Award for McLaughlin. Allan's 2010 release, 'Get off the Pain,' includes two McLaughlin co-writes: "I Think I've Had Enough" and "When You Give Yourself Away."
As a studio musician he has contributed guitar to projects by Jamie Hartford, Rosanne Cash
Rosanne Cash
Rosanne Cash is an American singer-songwriter and author. She is the eldest daughter of the late country music singer Johnny Cash and his first wife, Vivian Liberto Cash Distin....
, Julie Roberts, Don Williams
Don Williams
Don Williams , is an American country singer, songwriter and a 2010 inductee to the Country Music Hall of Fame. He grew up in Portland, Texas, and graduated in 1958 from Gregory-Portland High School. After seven years with the folk-pop group Pozo-Seco Singers, he began his solo career in 1971,...
, Al Cooper, Shawn Camp, Cowboy Jack Clement
Jack Clement
Jack Henderson Clement is an American singer, songwriter, and a record and film producer.Raised and educated in Memphis, Jack Clement was performing at an early age...
, Neil Diamond
Neil Diamond
Neil Leslie Diamond is an American singer-songwriter with a career spanning over five decades from the 1960s until the present....
, Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
and many more.
2010 has found McLaughlin continuing his monthly gigs at Douglas Corner Cafe in Nashville. In spring 2010 he was featured on "Jammin' at Hippie Jacks," which airs on select public television stations across the U.S. He has also been performing with songwriters Shawn Camp and Al Anderson (formerly of NRBQ) in a band called The World Famous Headliners. There has been some speculation that a World Famous Headliners CD will be released while McLaughlin's website also makes note that a solo CD and DVD are forthcoming.
In November 2010 Pat McLaughlin is appearing as an opening act with John Prine. Midway in John Prine's show, Pat joins in and participates as a member of the band. As an opener for Prine, Pat McLaughlin is very well received by those listening.
Albums
| Year | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Pat McLaughlin | Capitol |
| 1992 | Party at Pat’s | Appaloosa |
| 1994 | Unglued | Dos |
| 1995 | Get Out and Stay Out | Dos |
| 1996 | Wind It On Up | Appaloosa |
| 2000 | Uncle Pat | Evangeline |
| 2003 | Next Five Miles | Creamstyle |
| 2006 | Horsefly | Creamstyle |
| 2011 | Live at The Coupe (DVD) | Creamstyle |