Clyde Lee McCoy (December 29, 1903 – June 11, 1990), was an American jazz trumpeter whose popularity spanned seven decades. He is best remembered for his theme song, "Sugar Blues", written by Clarence Williams and Lucy Fletcher, and well as the co-founder of Down Beat magazine in 1935. The song hit in 1931 and 1935, in Columbia and Decca versions, and returned to Billboard magazine's Country (Hillbilly) chart in 1941. It was also played with vocals, by Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys, Fats Waller and Ella Fitzgerald. Johnny Mercer had a vocal hit in 1947. McCoy was a member of one of the families of the Hatfield-McCoy feud, and was based at various times in Los Angeles, New York City, and at Chicago's Drake Hotel, where he first performed "Sugar Blues" in 1930. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6426 Hollywood Boulevard.
Married Maxine Bennett, lead vocalist of his singing group, the Bennett Sisters.
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Trumpet player and bandleader (from 1920), who had a massive hit in the 1930's with the novelty song "Sugar Blues", which became his theme. He was noted for his muted solos and 'wah-wah' style of playing, and for his use of a miniature trumpet for specialty numbers.
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Enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1942, along with his entire band. After World War II, he resumed leading a big band. McCoy retired in 1955 to operate a night club in Denver, Colorado. He was back in the music business by 1960, fronting a Dixieland combo at the Round Table in New York. During the next twenty years, he continued to perform in ballrooms and concert halls across the U.S. and Canada.
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Is a descendant of the McCoy family, involved in the famous Hatfield-McCoy feud (1863-1891) on the West Virginia-Kentucky border.
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He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6426 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
Boardwalk Empire
2014
TV Series performer - 1 episode
The Wolf of Wall Street
2013
performer: "Tear It Down" / writer: "Tear It Down"
Cry Baby: The Pedal that Rocks the World
2011
Video documentary performer: "Sugar Blues" / writer: "Sugar Blues"
Short performer: "I'll Sing You a Thousand Love Songs", "Roseland Stomp", "Blue Sugar" - uncredited / writer: "Roseland Stomp", "Blue Sugar" - uncredited
Clyde McCoy and His Orchestra
1936
Short performer: "Sugar Blues", "Ridin' to Glory on a Trumpet", "There'll Be Some Changes Made", "Tear It Down" - uncredited / writer: "Sugar Blues", "Ridin' to Glory on a Trumpet", "Tear It Down" - uncredited
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
A Midnight Bell
1921
Mac
His Busy Day
1938
Short
Clyde McCoy
Clyde McCoy and His Orchestra
1936
Short
Clyde McCoy (as Clyde McCoy and His Sugar Blues Orchestra)
The Idle Class
1921
Short
Extra (uncredited)
Writer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Super Shark
2011
written by
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Jam Session
1937
Short
Himself - Clyde McCoy
Known for movies
The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) as Soundtrack
RocknRolla (2008) as Soundtrack
Some Like It Hot (1959) as Soundtrack
Cry Baby: The Pedal that Rocks the World (2011) as Soundtrack
$1.9 Million
