O. B. McClinton
- April 25, 1940
- September 23, 1987
- 47 years
- abdominal cancer
About O. B. McClinton
O. B. McClinton, 47, American country music singer and songwriter, abdominal cancer.
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Full Biography
|Obie Burnett "O. B." McClinton (April 25, 1940 – September 23, 1987) was an American black country music singer and songwriter. The second-youngest child born to Rev. G. A. McClinton, a clergyman and farmer who owned a 700-acre (2.8 km2) ranch near Memphis, Tennessee. Listening to Hank Williams as a child around the age of nine or 10 sparked his interest in performing country music.
Before beginning his country music career, he tried to break into R&B. Although he was unable to secure a recording contract as a soul singer himself, he did pen several songs recorded by James Carr, including the title songs to Carr's albums You Got My Mind Messed Up and A Man Needs a Woman.
Known to refer to himself as the "Chocolate Cowboy", McClinton successfully marketed his album called The Only One on television long before the practice was commonplace. Featuring his first country chart single "Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You", a top 40 song in 1972, he considered it to be his finest work.
He died on September 23, 1987, after a year-long battle with abdominal cancer.
Discography
Albums
Singles
† "Oboe"
± "Oboe with The Keys"
‡ "O.B. McClinton (The Chocolate Cowboy)"
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O._B._McClinton
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- October 23, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 15 questions
Questions drawn from O. B. McClinton's archived record and the sources above.
1.On what date was O. B. McClinton born?
- A.January 12, 1942
- B.September 23, 1987
- C.April 25, 1940correct
- D.October 10, 1938
O. B. McClinton was born on April 25, 1940.
Source: biographical introduction
2.What was the occupation of O. B. McClinton's father, Rev. G. A. McClinton?
- A.Clergyman and farmercorrect
- B.Music producer and songwriter
- C.Lawyer and politician
- D.Doctor and ranch owner
Rev. G. A. McClinton was a clergyman and farmer who owned a 700-acre ranch.
Source: early life section
3.Which country music performer inspired O. B. McClinton to pursue music around the age of nine or ten?
- A.Waylon Jennings
- B.Hank Williamscorrect
- C.Johnny Cash
- D.George Jones
Listening to Hank Williams as a child sparked O. B. McClinton's interest in performing country music.
Source: early life section
4.What genre did O. B. McClinton attempt to enter before starting his country music career?
- A.Rock and roll
- B.Gospel
- C.Jazz
- D.R&Bcorrect
Before beginning his country music career, O. B. McClinton tried to break into R&B.
Source: career beginnings section
5.For which artist did O. B. McClinton pen song titles such as You Got My Mind Messed Up?
- A.James Carrcorrect
- B.Otis Redding
- C.Sam Cooke
- D.Wilson Pickett
O. B. McClinton penned several songs recorded by James Carr.
Source: songwriting section
6.What nickname did O. B. McClinton use to refer to himself?
- A.The Chocolate Cowboycorrect
- B.The Memphis Cowboy
- C.The Soulful Cowboy
- D.The Country Maverick
O. B. McClinton was known to refer to himself as the Chocolate Cowboy.
Source: career highlights section
7.What was the name of the album that O. B. McClinton successfully marketed on television?
- A.Green Grass Memories
- B.Memphis Soul
- C.The Last Stand
- D.The Only Onecorrect
O. B. McClinton marketed his album called The Only One on television.
Source: career highlights section
8.What was the title of O. B. McClinton's first country chart single?
- A.A Man Needs a Woman
- B.My Mind Messed Up
- C.The Only One
- D.Don't Let The Green Grass Fool Youcorrect
Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You was the first country chart single for O. B. McClinton.
Source: career highlights section
9.In what year did O. B. McClinton have a top 40 country song?
- A.1975
- B.1968
- C.1972correct
- D.1970
O. B. McClinton's first country chart single was a top 40 song in 1972.
Source: career highlights section
10.Which of his own songs did O. B. McClinton consider to be his finest work?
- A.You Got My Mind Messed Up
- B.Don't Let The Green Grass Fool Youcorrect
- C.A Man Needs a Woman
- D.The Only One
O. B. McClinton considered his top 40 song Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You to be his finest work.
Source: career highlights section
11.On what date did O. B. McClinton pass away?
- A.December 25, 1987
- B.January 23, 1988
- C.April 25, 1987
- D.September 23, 1987correct
O. B. McClinton died on September 23, 1987.
Source: death section
12.What illness led to the death of O. B. McClinton?
- A.Liver disease
- B.Heart failure
- C.Respiratory failure
- D.Abdominal cancercorrect
O. B. McClinton died after a year-long battle with abdominal cancer.
Source: death section
13.How long did O. B. McClinton battle his final illness before passing away?
- A.One yearcorrect
- B.Three years
- C.Six months
- D.Two years
O. B. McClinton died after a year-long battle with abdominal cancer.
Source: death section
14.What was O. B. McClinton's birth order among his siblings?
- A.The oldest
- B.The middle child
- C.The youngest
- D.The second-youngestcorrect
O. B. McClinton was the second-youngest child born to Rev. G. A. McClinton.
Source: early life section
15.Where was the ranch belonging to O. B. McClinton's father located?
- A.Near Nashville, Tennessee
- B.Near Memphis, Tennesseecorrect
- C.Near Atlanta, Georgia
- D.Near Jackson, Mississippi
The father owned a 700-acre ranch near Memphis, Tennessee.
Source: early life section
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