Click “Play” below to listen to Glen’s music while you read his bio.
Glen Delpit has been entertaining Central Valley audiences for over 40 years. His musical journey began in the late 1960s, when the 22-year-old manager of Music Box Record Store in Manchester Center would take records home to study. He was drawn to the early folk blues of Robert Johnson and the finger-picking of Ry Cooder, which led him to pluck on guitars when the store started selling them.
Gradually, with the help of co-workers and friends, he grew more proficient and dove deeper into the music of the Mississippi Delta. He started singing and built a modest repertoire of songs by Robert Johnson and Charlie Patton. He also began writing his own songs and playing solo gigs. He joined his first band Salt of the Earth in 1977.
The breakthrough came in 1983 when Glen was invited to join a new band, The Houserockers; the legendary group that rocked Fresno’s equally legendary nightclub, The Wild Blue, throughout the 80s. It was during this period that Glen blossomed as a songwriter, so that by the time the band folded in 1990, over 90% of their songs were Glen’s originals.
The end of The Houserockers gave rise to Glen Delpit and the Subterraneans, a project he specifically created to perform his music, which they continue to do today. The band recently celebrated their 35th anniversary. Glen also continues to perform his tunes as a solo artist. To date Glen has recorded seven solo albums, six with The Subs, and one with The Houserockers.
His great joy is seeing people mouth the words to his songs as he’s singing them; makes him grateful for all that’s come his way – and the tenacity of that kid in the record store all those years ago.