Sarasota Blues Fest headliner Delbert McClinton on teaching harmonica to John Lennon: interview

Delbert McClinton has released four CDs that have reached No. 1 on the blues albums chart, has been inducted into the Texas Heritage Songwriters Hall of Fame and won a Grammy Award.

And that's just since 2001.

Go back a couple more decades, and there's the Top 10 single "Giving It Up For Your Love," the popular country duet with Tanya Tucker "Tell Me About It," and another Grammy Award for his duet with Bonnie Raitt, "Good Man, Good Woman."

McClinton also wrote the Emmylou Harris No. 1 hit "Two More Bottles of Wine."

And gave harmonica lessons to John Lennon.

Yes, THAT John Lennon.

McClinton, a Texas roots music hero who first tasted international fame in the early 1960s, has finally started to slow down a little.

He scheduled just a handful of shows this month including his headlining spot at the Sarasota Blues and Music Festival on Saturday.

"I just don't care anymore about being out there eight days a week," McClinton said by phone while vacationing in Mexico earlier his month. "I work just enough to satisfy the jones."

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Sarasota Blues and Music Festival schedule  

—Delbert McClinton publicity photo provided.

John Lennon's final interview in Rolling Stone

AP Photo - In this magazine cover image of Rolling Stone, former Beatle John Lennon is shown on the cover of the Dec. 23, 2010 issue of "Rolling Stone."

John Lennon did one last interview three days before being shot to death outside his New York apartment 30 years ago today.

The Associated Press received the final interview from Rolling Stone. The magazine will release the full interview —only brief excerpts have previously appeared — in the issue that streets Dec. 10.

"I'm not claiming divinity," Lennon told RS's Jonathan Cott. "I've never claimed purity of soul. I've never claimed to have the answers to life. I only put out songs and answer questions as honestly as I can ... But I still believe in peace, love and understanding."

Lennon also had kind words for Bruce Springsteen.

"And God help Bruce Springsteen when they decide he's no longer God," Lennon said. "They'll turn on him, and I hope he survives it."

CLICK TO READ "ROLLING STONE RELEASES LENNON'S FINAL INTERVIEW" AT BRADENTON.COM