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'{{short description|American singer-songwriter}} {{Infobox person |name=Harry Kirby McClintock |image=Harry McClintock.jpg |image_size= |caption= |birth_name=Harry Kirby McClintock |birth_place=[[Uhrichsville, Ohio]] |birth_date= {{birth date|1884|10|08}} |death_date = {{death date and age|1957|04|24|1884|10|08}} |death_place= [[San Francisco]], [[California]] |death_cause= |resting_place= |resting_place_coordinates= |residence= |nationality= |other_names=Haywire Mac, Radio Mac, Strawlegs Martin |known_for="[[Big Rock Candy Mountain]]", "[[Hallelujah, I'm a Bum]]" |education= |employer= |occupation= [[Hobo|boomer]], [[author]], [[poet]], [[busker]], [[cowboy]], [[union organizer]] |title= |footnotes= }} '''Harry Kirby McClintock''' (October 8, 1882 &ndash; April 24, 1957), also known as "'''Haywire Mac'''", was an American singer, songwriter, and poet, best known for his song "[[Big Rock Candy Mountain]]". ==Life== McClintock was born on October 8, 1884, in Uhrichsville, Ohio, "the son of a railroad cabinet maker and nephew of four "Boomer Brakemen" who worked on traveling trains for throwing switches and helped transfer cars from train to train. He was the son of Walter Alan McClintock (1852-1901) Harrison County, Ohio, USA, and Joanna M Kirby (1852-1922)Harrison, Ohio, United States and only had a single sibling, Milton D McClintock (1876-1880). His family was native to Tippecanoe, Ohio, and soon after his birth his parents moved their small family to Knoxville, Tennessee, where they raised him. His drifting began when he ran away from home as a boy to join a circus. He railroaded in Africa; worked as a seaman; saw action in the Philippines as a civilian mule-train packer, supplying American troops with food and ammunition; and in 1899 found himself in China as an aide to newsmen covering the [[Boxer Rebellion]]. Back in the States, he hired out to the [[Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne and Chicago Railway]] in the Pittsburgh area, and from there he took the boomer trail as railroader and a minstrel. "Mac lived an adventurous life and never lost his sense of humor".<ref>"He's Gone to the Big Rock Candy Mountain", ''Railroad Magazine'', Vol. 68 No. 6, Oct. 1957 p. 57</ref> Harry K. McClintock married Bessie K. Johnson on September 8, 1917, in Farmington City, Utah. They only ever had one daughter, Joan V. McClintock who attended Balboa High School in San Francisco and Graduated at 16 years old. Bessie's Father was Ernest Hugo Oscar Johnson born in Stockholm, Sweden & from Park City Utah and her Mother was Olivia L. Johnson from Eslöv, Skåne, Sweden & Salt Lake City Utah. Olivia L. Johnson was employed by operating Mother Johnson's rooming house located in Salt Lake City, Utah. The writer [[Jim Thompson (writer)|Jim Thompson]], an acquaintance of McClintock, alluded to McClintock in his autobiographical work ''[[Big Boy (book)|Big Boy]]''. Thompson stated that he "was put next to a job" dismantling oil derricks "by a character named Strawlegs, a one-time banjo player and an all-time dipsomaniac".<ref>{{cite book |last=Thompson |first=Jim |author-link= |date=1953 |title=Big Boy|location=New York, NY |publisher=Mysterious Press |page=152 |isbn=9780445407138}}</ref> Later on, he says, "Strawlegs was a very good banjo player, as, if you have guessed his right name, you know. He was also a very good little guy."<ref>{{cite book |last=Thompson |first=Jim |author-link= |date=1953 |title=Big Boy|location=New York, NY |publisher=Mysterious Press |page=169 |isbn=9780445407138}}</ref> ==Radio & Music== In 1925 "Mac" participated in a KFRC Radio talent contest, singing his song "[[The Big Rock Candy Mountains]]" won him a spot on a new Radio show called ''[[Blue Monday Jamboree]]'' [[variety show]] <ref>http://www.theradiohistorian.org/blue_mon_poster.jpg |date=1927|</ref> where his cast-mates included [[Meredith Willson]], [[Bea Benaderet]], <ref> http://www.theradiohistorian.org/blue_mon_poster.jpg |date=1927|</ref> Edna Fisher <ref>http://www.theradiohistorian.org/blue_mon_poster.jpg |date=1927|</ref>, [[Elvia Allman]] <ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elvia_Allman</ref>, and future ''[[I Love Lucy]]'' producer [[Jess Oppenheimer]]. Mac was also a member of Al Pearce's "The Happy Go Lucky Hour" <ref>http://www.theradiohistorian.org/pearce2.htm</ref> on KFRC. Cast-Mates, Edna Fisher, [[Tommy Harris, Tommy's Joynt, SF|Tommy Harris, Tommy's Joynt]] https://bayarearadio.org/sf-radio-history/tharris His song "[[The Big Rock Candy Mountains]]" (United States Copyright Office Library of Congress, 12/10/1928, #25251, EP1521, V2210P414-416, 10/26/1986). Reached No.&nbsp;1 on Billboard's "Hillbilly Hits" chart in 1939. Having worked as a cowboy himself, McClintock was one of the few "country" singers who had an authentic background from which to draw. Featured in the 2000 movie ''[[O Brother, Where Art Thou?]]''. * {{Internet Archive author |sname=Harry Kirby McClintock}} His song "[[The Old Chisholm Trail]]" was featured in the end credits of ''The Grandest Enterprise Under God'' episode (Episode 5) of the TV documentary miniseries ''[[The West (miniseries)|The West]]''. He was included in [[Robert Crumb]]'s series of "Heroes of Blues, Jazz and Country" trading cards. ==Membership== H. K. McClintock was initiated into the IWW by W.F. Little, (Walter Frederick Little is Frank H. Little’s brother), Union No. 66, on March 4, 1911, Dep.Transportation He became a Deputy Sheriff of San Francisco California on February 7, 1930. He became a member of Screen Actors Guild, INC. on May 5, 1939. He became a member of The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) on September 30, 1940, His Estate has continued to belong to ASCAP to present. ==Politics== Mac and Joe Hill were Spellbinders for the IWW and would show up as they did at the Tucker Utah strike on June 14, 1913. (Salt Lake Tribune) He is credited with being the first person to sing "[[The Preacher and the Slave]]", a song by [[Joe Hill (activist)|Joe Hill]], in public. He was a lifelong member of the [[Industrial Workers of the World]]. Mac wrote the marching song of the IWW "[[Hallelujah I'm a Bum]]". In the mid 1920s He hosted a children's program on KFRC San Francisco called "Mac and his Gang." In the early 1920s he worked and organized union men in the oil fields of [[west Texas]], where he met and recruited Jim Thompson, who later incorporated him into several short stories using the name "Strawlegs Martin."<ref>{{cite web|last=Burnett|first=Jay|title=Things Are Not As They Seem|url=http://www.pennilesspress.co.uk/prose/things_are_not_as_they_seem.htm|publisher=The Penniless Press On-Line|accessdate=21 May 2013}}</ref> ==Selected discography== ===78s=== *''Ain't we crazy? (Barefoot boy with boots on)'' (1928; Victor V-40101) <ref>[http://victor.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/800020445/BVE-46452-Aint_we_crazy Victor Discography: Matrix BVE-46452. Ain't we crazy? / Radio Mac [i.e., Harry K. McClintock]</ref> *''The Big Rock Candy Mountains'' (1928, Victor Talking Machine Co. Camden, NJ No.&nbsp;21704-B) <ref>[http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/800020447/BVE-46454-The_big_rock_candy_mountains Victor Discography: Matrix BVE-46454. The big rock candy mountains / Mac [i.e., Harry K. McClintock]</ref> *''Hallelujah! I'm a Bum'' (1928, Victor label No.&nbsp;21343-B (42137)). Reverse side is "The Bum Song".<ref>Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Victor 21343 (Black label (popular) 10-in. double-faced)," accessed October 6, 2021, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/object/detail/18869/Victor_21343.</ref> *''Hallelujah! I'm A Bum'' (3-31-1928 Victor 21343). * {{Internet Archive author |sname=Harry Kirby McClintock}} *''Get Along, Little Dogies'' (3-1-1928 Victor V-40016). *''Fireman, Save My Child'' (12-15-1929 Victor V-40234). *''The Texas Ranger'' (3-1-1928 Victor 21487). *''Jerry, Go Ile That Car'' (3-16-1928 Victor 21521). * {{Internet Archive author |sname=Harry Kirby McClintock}} *''The Bum Song'' (3-16-1928 Victor 21343). * {{Internet Archive author |sname=Harry Kirby McClintock}} *''The Trail To Mexico'' (3-9-1928 Victor V-40016). *''The Old Chrisholm Trail'' (3-22-1928 Victor 21421). * {{Internet Archive author |sname=Harry Kirby McClintock}} *''Circus Days'' (3-31-1928 Victor 21567). *''Goodbye, Old Paint'' (3-1-1928 Victor 21761). *''Ain't We Crazy?'' (9-6-1928 Victor V-40101). * {{Internet Archive author |sname=Harry Kirby McClintock}} *''The Bum Song #2'' (9-6-1928 Victor 21704). * {{Internet Archive author |sname=Harry Kirby McClintock}} *''The Trusty Lariat'' (12-15-1929 Victor V-40234). *''My Last Dollar'' (3-22-1928 Victor 23690). *''Billy Venero'' (3-31-1928 Victor 21487). *''The Big Rock Candy Mountain'' (9-6-1928 Victor 21704). * {{Internet Archive author |sname=Harry Kirby McClintock}} *''Red River Valley'' (3-27-1928 Vi 21421-B). * {{Internet Archive author |sname=Harry Kirby McClintock}} *''Roamin''(12-15-1929 Vi V-40264). *''Sam Bass''(3-1-1928 Vi 22420). * {{Internet Archive author |sname=Harry Kirby McClintock}} *''Hobo’s Spring Song'' (4-30-1929 Vi 22003-A V-40112). * {{Internet Archive author |sname=Harry Kirby McClintock}} *''Jesse James'' (3-9-1928 Vi 21420 LPV548). * {{Internet Archive author |sname=Harry Kirby McClintock}} *''If I Had My Druthers'' (4-30-1929 Vi 22003-B V-40112). * {{Internet Archive author |sname=Harry Kirby McClintock}} *''Dad's Dinner Pail'' (3-9-1928 Vi 21521). * {{Internet Archive author |sname=Harry Kirby McClintock}} ===LPs=== *''Haywire Mac'' (1950, Cook Records 01124) * Harry K. McClintock "Haywire Mac" (1972, Folkways Records, FD 5272). * {{Internet Archive author |sname=Harry Kirby McClintock}} * Hallelujah! I'm A Bum (1975, Rounder Records, 1009) ===Compilations=== *''Songs to Grow On, Vol. 3: American Work Songs'' (1951, Folkways Records 07027). Track 4: "Jerry, Go and Oil That Car" *''Cowboy Songs on Folkways'' (1991, [[Smithsonian Folkways]] 40043). Track 7: "Utah Carl" *''Folk Song America, Vol. 1'' (1991, Smithsonian Collection 461). Track 5: "[[Big Rock Candy Mountain]]" *''When I Was a Cowboy, Vol. 1'' (1996, Yazoo Records 2022). Track 9: "[[Sam Bass (song)|Sam Bass]]" *''Train 45: Railroad Songs of the Early 1900s'' (1998, Rounder Select 1143). Track 20: "Jerry, Go Oil That Car" *''[[O Brother, Where Art Thou? (soundtrack)|O Brother, Where Art Thou?]]'' (2000, Lost Highway Records 170069). Track 2: "Big Rock Candy Mountain" *''Back in the Saddle Again: American Cowboy Songs'' (2004, New World Records). Track 1: "Old Chisholm Trail" ==Bibliography== *"Haywire Mac and the Big Rock Candy Mountain" (''Stillhouse Hollow Publishers Inc.", Copyright 1981) By Henry Young. Santa Fe Railway locomotive engineer Retired Oct. 31, 1974. [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39324143-haywire-mac-and-the-big-rock-candy-mountain] ===Stories=== *"Railroaders are Tough" (''Railroad Magazine'', April, 1943) *"Boomer and Their Women" (''Railroad Magazine'', December, 1957) ===Articles=== *"New Publications - ''Railroad Songs of Yesteryear''" (''Railroad Magazine'', August 1943) Short biography is part of review. ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== '''Articles & Photo's''' *[http://www.bluegrassmessengers.com/harry-%E2%80%9Chaywire-mac%E2%80%9D-mcclintock--1928-.aspx Harry McClintock biography] *[http://www.allmusic.com/artist/harry-mcclintock-p103496/biography Harry McClintock] at [[AllMusic]]. * {{discogs artist|Harry McClintock}} * {{IMDb name|0565860}} *[http://www.oldradio.com/archives/stations/sf/mac.htm Harry McClintock] on KFRC Radio. *[http://victor.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/talent/detail/48065/McClintock_Harry_K._vocalist Harry McClintock] on [[Victor Talking Machine Company|Victor Records]]. *http://www.theradiohistorian.org/blue_mon_poster.jpg. KFRC 1927 Blue Monday Jamboree Photo *http://www.theradiohistorian.org/pearce2.htm. KFRC Happy Go Lucky Hour Photo with names *https://bayarearadio.org/schneider/kfrc1.shtml Bay Area Radio Hall of fame, KFRC '''Sheet music''' *[http://78records.cdbpdx.com/BumSong/BumSong-s.pdf ''The Bum Song:''] words and music by Harry McClintock. *[''Mac's Songs Of The Road And Range''] Music Book by Harry McClintock. '''Lyrics''' *[http://www.communitysingers.org/SoupKitchen/BigRockCandyMountain.pdf ''Big Rock Candy Mountain''] *[http://www.folkarchive.de/bum.html ''Hallelujah, I'm a Bum''] *[http://www.musicanet.org/robokopp/usa/longhair.htm ''The Preacher and the Slave''] *[http://www.traditionalmusic.co.uk/song-midis/Cowboy_Fireman_(Trusty_Lariat).htm ''The Trusty Lariat''] '''Albums''' *[https://www.horntip.com/mp3/1920s/1920s_the_great_american_bum__harry_mcclintock_(CD)/harry_mcclintock_the_great_american_bum.jpg ''Harry McClintock: The Great American Bum''] *[http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_HjxTBzCQW4Y/S9hqUXhITbI/AAAAAAAAAhI/qOI8rFfuk-k/s1600/Mac%27s+Haywire+Orchestra.jpg Mac's Haywire Orchestra] *[http://www.folkways.si.edu/albumdetails.aspx?itemid=954 ''Harry McClintock''] Download PDF file of liner notes. '''Streaming audio''' *[https://archive.org/download/SongsOfTheWobblies/06HallelujahImABumharvMcclintock.mp3 ''Hallelujah, I'm a Bum''] on [https://archive.org/details/SongsOfTheWobblies ''Songs of the Wobblies''] *[http://archives.gac.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/ScanAm/id/244/rec/1 Two Harry McClintock songs in Swedish translation] * {{Internet Archive author |sname=Harry Kirby McClintock}} ;Videos *{{YouTube|JqowmHgxVJQ|''The Big Rock Candy Mountains''}} Music Cartoon *{{YouTube|rhVCH0UO9cg|''The Big Rock Candy Mountains''}} Music Video acting by Harry McClintock. {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:McClintock, Harry}} [[Category:1882 births]] [[Category:1957 deaths]] [[Category:American country singer-songwriters]] [[Category:American country guitarists]] [[Category:American male guitarists]] [[Category:American male composers]] [[Category:20th-century American composers]] [[Category:Industrial Workers of the World members]] [[Category:People from Knoxville, Tennessee]] [[Category:Singer-songwriters from Tennessee]] [[Category:Guitarists from Tennessee]] [[Category:20th-century American singers]] [[Category:Country musicians from Tennessee]] [[Category:20th-century guitarists]] [[Category:20th-century American male musicians]]'