Free Outdoor Concert with Thomas McClary Set for Dr. Phillips Center, 5/9

Hit-maker Thomas McClary, part of the writing team of Lionel Ritchie and Thomas McClary who created songs such as Brick House, Easy, Too Hot To Trot and Slippery When Wet, will perform at 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 9, 2015 on the Seneff Arts Plaza at the Dr. Phillips Center. The Florida Blue Concert Series is a partnership with the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts and Florida Blue Foundation.

Thomas McClary, one of the founders of the original Commodores, played an intricate role in creating the essences of the Commodores sound with his funky, rock flavored, smooth intimate guitar licks and his collaboration with Lionel Richie. Together they wrote over two thirds of all the songs recorded by The Commodores. Lionel once referred to the Richie /McClary writing team as "the Paul McCartney and John Lennon of The Commodores".

In 1974, The Commodores broke The Beatles attendance record at the Araneta Coliseum in the Philippines. This happened after the first album "Machine Gun" made history by becoming the first gold album sold in the history of Motown Records. This writing team wrote hits such as: "Brickhouse", "Slippery When Wet", "I Feel Sanctified", "Too Hot To Trot", "Flying High", and "High On Sunshine" just to name a few. McClary's guitar licks on The Commodores smash "Easy" have been hailed as one of the best solo guitar performances of all time. Whether it's "Sail On", "Three Times A Lady", "Just To Be Close"," Zoom", "Oh No", "Lady You Bring Me Up", "Sweet Love","This Is Your Life"," Still", or the smash instrumental hits "Machine Gun"and "Cebu".

It all started when Thomas McClary went to Tuskegee University in 1967 from Eustis, Florida pursuing a degree in Business Administration. While standing in the registration line, he met Lionel Richie who was whistling the song "Listen here" by Eddie Harris. Thomas asked Lionel if he was a musician, introduced himself as the man on a mission to put a band together. The two colleagues began recruiting other musicians to form "The Mystics". Members from the Mystics merged with another Tuskegee based group called "The Jays" to form The Commodores. The Commodores big break came after touring for two years as the opening act for the red hot Jackson 5, in 1972-73.

After taking some time from touring and recording to spend with his family, and to fulfill philanthropic goals to volunteer and support worthy non-profit organizations such as Shepherd's Hope and Celebs 4 Kids- he's back touring. The man who started the band that started it all, with unparalleled high energy you won't forget- introducing his cutting edge band: Thomas McClary's Commodores has sold out audiences everywhere creating a ground swell of excitement that's just contagious.

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