Delbert McClinton on His Music, and Something Even More Important

The one and only Delbert McClinton checked in with Imus today to sing some songs. So he was decidedly cranky when Imus sat him down for a chat, but Delbert seized the opportunity to discuss the real reason he was in New York City.

"We're in town to do Joan's Legacy," he said, referring to the charity event named after his wife Wendy's best friend Joan Scarangello. "She died of a rare cancer a few years back ... she never smoked or anything, and she got lung cancer, and within a very short time, it took her out."

Delbert will perform at the benefit, which also features a silent auction with some cool items, like a luxury studio apartment to rent in downtown Manhattan for one year. Also up for grabs are tickets to American Idol; a starting number in the 2010 New York City Marathon; and access to a backstage cast meeting for the show Two and a Half Men.

There's also an item on the docket donated by the I-Man: an autographed guitar. He parted with it after Delbert crushed Imus's dream of ever learning to play.

"I asked him how long I would take to learn to play the guitar," Imus said. "He said, 'You don't have enough time.'"

Imus had nothing but the highest praise for Delbert's most recent album, Acquired Taste. He worked with legendary producer Don Was, with whom he achieved much success in the past.

"The first time [we worked together] was when I did a duet with Bonnie Raitt," Delbert recalled. "A song called, Good Man, Good Woman, which we won a Grammy for."

The album has more of a jazz feel than Delbert's other records, which was intentional. "Charles likes all that," said Imus. "It's stuff you can't tap your foot to."

As Delbert got up to play some more tunes for Imus, he reminded people that the Joan's Legacy event is tomorrow night at Gotham Hall in New York City. He couldn't remember, however, how tickets can be purchased, and said that his wife was going to kill him for that.

"I would imagine you could call them, or you could pay at the door," said Delbert. "Whatever, I don't know."

Imus cautioned his guest against becoming irritable. "You're on the precipice," he said, speaking from experience.

-Julie Kanfer