Charly McClain

Charly McClain
Charly McClain performing at the Martin County Fair in Stuart, FL on March 9, 1989. (Photo courtesy of Jeff Moore.)
Background information
Birth name	Charlotte Denise McClain
Born	(1956-03-26) March 26, 1956 (age 60)
Origin	Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
Genres	Country pop
Occupation(s)	Singer
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1976–1989
Labels	Epic Records Mercury Records
Associated acts	Johnny Rodriguez Mickey Gilley Wayne Massey

Charlotte Denise "Charly" McClain (March 26, 1956) is an American country music singer, best known for string of country hits during the 1980s. McClain's biggest hits include "Who's Cheatin' Who," "Sleepin' with the Radio On," and "Radio Heart."

McClain was born March 26, 1956 to Virginia Jo (née Wiggins; May 18, 1934 – September 25, 2009) and Niles B. McClain (October 11, 1931) in Memphis, Tennessee. The nickname "Charly" would come from the neighborhood friends that she played with as a child. McClain would later go on to use it when she began her career playing hotel lounges. Her first experience recording was when father Niles had tuberculosis when she was eight. As she was under age to comply with hospital visiting policy, she had to communicate with him through a tape recorder. That inspired her interest in recording. She began her musical career at age twelve performing with her brother Mike and their band, Charlotte & The Volunteers. The band would perform together for the next six years. Her first TV appearance was on the local WBBJ morning show in Jackson, Tennessee. By the age of seventeen, she was a regular on the club circuit, and appeared at the Memphis show Mid-South Jamboree from 1973–1975.

At the age of twenty, McClain signed her first recording contract with Epic Records in 1976. McClain's distinct vocal sound provided an edge in recognizability—as did her attractive appearance.

McClain debuted in late 1976 with her first single, "Lay Down," which peaked at No. 67 on the Billboard Country Chart. McClain's initial singles in 1976 and 1977, from her debut album Here's Charly McClain, failed to chart highly on the Country charts.