By Amanda L
KUCHING, June 27: Legendary co-founder and lead guitarist of The Commodores, Thomas McClary, has recounted how the band nearly abandoned its musical ambitions on its very first night in New York City after all of its equipment was stolen.
Speaking during a press conference on the second day of the Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) 2026 at Sarawak Cultural Village (SCV) today, McClary shared the hardships the group endured long before achieving international fame under Motown.
McClary said the band’s journey began while he was a freshman at Tuskegee Institute, where he set out to form a band for a campus talent show.
“I turned to him and I said, ‘Hey man, are you a musician?’
“This guy was very shy. He goes, ‘No, not really.’
“I said, ‘Well, we’re going to be the Black Beatles.’
“That shy freshman was Lionel Richie,” he said.
He later organised auditions in Richie’s grandmother’s basement, where the band was officially formed.
After winning the campus talent show, McClary persuaded Richie’s grandmother to give them two months to pursue their musical ambitions in New York City. Believing they had enough money to last a month, the group packed its equipment into a van and headed north.
However, their first obstacle came before they even reached the city.
“When we got to the toll, it cost US$4.50. We didn’t have it,” he said.
McClary said the toll booth operator took pity on the band and allowed them to continue after asking them to promise they would one day tell the story if they became successful.
Their relief, however, was short-lived.
Upon arriving in New York at about 9pm, McClary left briefly to ask a YMCA manager whether the band could work in exchange for accommodation.
“When I came back, the guys were all fascinated looking up at the tall buildings. Lo and behold, someone had come and stolen all of our equipment,” he said.
With no money or instruments left, several band members wanted to return to Alabama.
Determined not to give up, McClary walked to a nearby nightclub where renowned performers, including James Brown and Aretha Franklin, were expected to be that evening. Introducing himself as a member of “The Black Beatles”, he sought an opportunity for the band to perform.
By coincidence, the man who had stolen the band’s equipment also arrived at the venue, attempting to sell the stolen instruments.
“The guy at the front door goes, ‘Okay guys, give the guy US$50 and he’ll give you your equipment back.’
“I said, ‘Wait a minute!’
“He said, ‘This is New York. Give him US$50,’” he recalled.
McClary said the doorman lent the band the money to recover its equipment before eventually becoming its manager.
The doorman also secured the group a 15-minute performance slot that night, during which they performed James Brown’s Cold Sweat before the legendary singer himself.
Reflecting on this year’s RWMF theme, “Regenerations, Roots and Rhythms”, McClary urged aspiring musicians to continue developing their live performance skills instead of relying solely on technology.
“Live performing is still very important. Don’t allow technology to take away your creativity.
“The day that music will die is when we start just relying strictly on the technology of sampling,” he said. — DayakDaily
