Clancy Hayes spent a lifetime in music as a vocalist, instrumentalist and composer - writing songs for Hoagy Carmichael, Bing Crosby and others. A seventh son of Welsh descent, Clancy entertained audiences for over 50 years - from the age of seven until illness tragically ended his professional career in 1970. Music was his profession and his hobby; he made countless private recordings with jazz friends including Jack and Charlie Teagarden, Lee Wiley, Burt Bales and Don Ewell.
Clancy also became involved in jazz and played with Lu Watters' Yerba Buena Jazz Band whose 1941 records sparked world-wide interest in Traditional Jazz; in the wartime YBJB he played with jazz legend Bunk Johnson and Benny Strickler.
Clancy worked with NBC radio stations in the San Francisco Bay Area from 1928 headlining dozens of programmes over the next twenty years
His radio days finished in 1950 when he became featured vocalist with Bob Scobey's Frisco Band. So popular were their recordings, he received the Down Beat critics' award for New Star Jazz Singer in 1954.
Clancy left the Scobey band in 1960 and worked as a 'single' throughout the decade. Based at Turk Murphy and Pete Clute's Earthquake McGoon's in San Francisco, he frequently travelled the USA to perform as a single, band member or guest with some true jazz greats including Yank Lawson, Bud Freeman, Ralph Sutton, Bob Wilber, Nappy Trottier, Jim Dapogny, Raymond Burke, Tommy Gwaltney and many others. Clancy's wonderful vocal style, rhythm and phrasing made him Bing Crosby's favourite traditional jazz singer......
Clancy was a unique individual, he was a true troubadour and just loved what he was doing. He wrote music and just loved performing and that comes out in his songs. He was one of those unique individuals that everybody loved. - Pete Clute, musician and co-owner of Earthquake McGoon's, San Francisco.
Clancy's story telling style was warm, engaging and always had a lilt and a swing to it. The old music hall phrase 'he knows how to put a song over' of course applies to him but it's more than that. It's natural, never forced and has an enviable laid-back feel to it'. - Spats Langham, musician and bandleader.
I think he was a fine singer and banjo/guitar player. Also good on the drums and piano. Very relaxed and easy to listen to. Apparently Bing Crosby was a frequent visitor to McGoon's to listen to Clancy and chat between sets. - John Gill, musician and bandleader.
I love that Hayes. He should go down in history as one of the greatest jazz singers, and certainly one of the All-Time, All-American six string banjo players. I think he's terrific. And he's written and collaborated on several wonderful tunes. Doc Souchon, New Orleans Jazz Club.
