Austin: Delbert McClinton and the Paramount Walk of Fame

Austin had watched Delbert McClinton for decades before it gave him a star. In 2019, the historic Paramount Theatre on Congress Avenue honored McClinton with the fifth star on its Walk of Fame. He joined a select company: actors Jaston Williams and Joe Sears, and musicians Jerry Jeff Walker and Lyle Lovett. For McClinton, the recognition reflected a relationship with Austin that stretched back across decades of performances and collaborations.

In 1989, McClinton recorded Live from Austin, a concert album captured during an appearance on the public television program Austin City Limits. The recording showcased him at his most commanding — a blues and soul performer who could hold a quiet room the same way he commanded a dancehall. The album earned a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Blues Recording. Austin City Limits had captured him at exactly the right moment.

The Paramount Theatre embodies everything Austin prizes about its relationship with live music. Built in 1915, it has hosted performers across every genre for over a century. Congress Avenue connects the Texas State Capitol to the Colorado River, and the theater sits at the center of a city that defines itself by its commitment to music.

A Career Verified by Austin

McClinton’s Austin connection deepened over the years. He returned regularly to play clubs and festivals that made the city’s reputation. Moreover, his album Nothing Personal (2001) debuted at number one on the blues chart and reached number three on the country chart — evidence of the crossover appeal that Austin’s inclusive music culture had always appreciated.

The Grammy Awards recognized McClinton four times: 1992 for a duet with Bonnie Raitt, 2002 for Nothing Personal, 2006 for Cost of Living, and 2020 for Tall, Dark and Handsome. Each album carried the directness and emotional honesty that Fort Worth had given him and Austin had recognized.

His Paramount Walk of Fame star sits on Congress Avenue, steps from the Capitol dome. The Fort Worth kid who taught John Lennon how to play blues harmonica earned his place on the most famous block in Texas music. It belongs there.