Delbert McClinton is a singer and multi-instrumentalist whose career has been active for over four decades. The timelessness and Americana that are so much a part of his songwriting and playing styles have kept him relevant to his listeners and he is dedicated to using his influence to bring other musicians in America to share the spotlight with him. Times Square had the opportunity to speak to Delbert about his career, and his yearly Sandy Beaches Cruise.

Times Square (TS): The first thing I wanted to know was about your discography – it's so extensive. From what I understand your last album Acquired Taste was release in 2009 and I'm wondering if you have anything new in the works – what is the trajectory for you at the moment?

Delbert McClinton (DM): Well, as a matter of fact, I was just talking to Wendy a few minutes ago, a friend of mine whose studio just caught on fire a few years ago just got it re-done and we're about to go in and do some tracks. I've also got a thing that I've started that I'm sort of halfway in the middle of, an old friend of mine Glen Clark, we did a record together a few years back called Delbert and Glen, and we're doing another record.

TS: Of all of the albums that you have done, do you have any favorites, any that stand out for you?

DM: Oh you know, it's like saying which one of your children is your favorite. It depends on what kind of mood I'm in, but I generally always hear something I wish I had done that I think would have made it better. I think that's healthy. I'm never really satisfied, I always feel like after all the evaluation – there are songs that you have to live with a little while before you really know how to do them, and that's what you find out after the fact a lot of the time. It's not that there's anything wrong with those cuts, it's just that if I were doing it now I would do it different.

TS: What is it that you enjoy about playing with other musicians, and how is that experience different when your voice is the forefront?

DM: Well of course I enjoy that more than backing someone else up. It's all enjoyable you know. Playing music with people is about as close to true magic as I can imagine. Of course it can be hell too if it doesn't gel. When it does it's as good as it gets. You become one with four or five other guys and it's a great exhilaration.

TS: How do you go about finding the right people for your music?

DM: I just know a lot of players; I 've been around a while. If I write a song usually automatically one of the people I think can interpret it the way I want it done is the one I'll go to. It's got any number variables. There's a lot of time you'll meet someone by playing with somebody else by playing with them and instantly you'll know that they'd be someone good to work with. It's a journey of many, many unexpected wonderful things.

TS: And on the topic of journeys, I'm wondering if you can tell me about the Sandy Beaches cruise, how the idea was conceived and what the atmosphere is like on the ship.

DM: The idea came to me after I'd done a cruise with some other people that wasn't my cruise for two years in a row. About midway through that second year I got to thinking that I could do a better job of this than they're doing. I talked to a good friend of mine we were sitting on a beach in St. Martin. We decided to lease a ship - I had a great idea in my mind that I knew would work and it did. I know so many people that don't have radio careers that are fantastic entertainers, very talented people, but the general public doesn't know about them because they don't have a record deal, or the have the talent but don't have the business mind. These are people that can go up there, plug in and blow your socks off. I wanted to bring together that would mesh well together in a week of great music. No attitudes other than let's play and have a good time.

TS: On July 27th, you're playing B.B. King's in Times Square. What's your favorite aspect of playing that particular room?

DM: It's pretty simple, really. When people ask me what's my favorite place to play, I always say the last place I had a really good night, and we always have a good night at B.B. King's. The people are always so receptive and into it and it's a good sounding stage. And, you get to go to New York!

For more information regarding the Sandy Beaches Cruise, call 1-800-DELBERT

For more Times Square articles like Music at Sea: An Interview with Delbert McClinton, please visit the Music Interviews Section of TimesSquare.com