Clyde McPhatter
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Clyde McPhatter (November 15, 1932 – June 13, 1972) was an influential Afro American R&B singer, born in Durham, North Carolina. He was raised in a religious Baptist family, and formed a gospel group in 1945 after his family moved to New Jersey. They soon relocated to New York City, and McPhatter joined the Mount Lebanon Singers, a popular gospel group.
In 1950, McPhatter joined Billy Ward & the Dominoes, and was present for the recording of "Sixty Minute Man" for Federal Records and produced by Ralph Bass, which was a huge hit in 1951, and was one of the earliest rock and roll records. After several more hits, including "Have Mercy Baby", McPhatter quit the group in 1953 because he made little money and gained virtually no fame, in spite of his voice being the lead on most of the group's songs. McPhatter then signed to Atlantic Records after forming a group, The Drifters. "Money Honey", "Such a Night", "Honey Love", "White Christmas" and "Whatcha Gonna Do" became huge hits.
In 1954, McPhatter was drafted but was assigned in the U.S., allowing him to continue recording. He soon left The Drifters and launched a solo career. His first solo hit occurred just after being discharged - "Love Has Joined Us Together" (with Ruth Brown). He released several R&B hits in the next few years, but only made one serious dent in the pop charts with the Brook Benton penned song "A Lovers Question", which made it to #6 in 1958. White groups usually covered his best compositions and achieved more widespread mainstream success. In spite of this, McPhatter became one of the most popular black musicians among white listeners. His 1956 recording of "Treasure of Love" saw him enjoy just one week in the UK singles chart. The lack of any subsequent entry gave him the unenviable tag there of being a one hit wonder
McPhatter soon signed to MGM Records, and released several more hits. "I Told Myself a Lie" and "Think Me a Kiss" (1960) became minor pop hits, as was "Ta Ta", his first single for Mercury Records. "I Never Knew" and "Lover Please" (1962) became even bigger pop hits, but his career started suffering due to his alcoholism. Other black artists were following McPhatter's blueprint into pop audiences, including Rudy Lewis, Johnny Moore, Sam Cooke and an all new line-up of The Drifters. McPhatter's unreliability kept him from maintaining his career in the face of this competition. As the 1960s wore on, McPhatter's career kept falling in spite of a few minor hits.
In the early 1970s, McPhatter spent some time living in England, where he still had a significant audience, but this was short-lived. Back again in America, Clyde McPhatter died of a heart attack in 1972, at the age of 39. McPhatter was buried at George Washington Memorial Park in Paramus, New Jersey.[1]
In 1987, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His pioneering contribution to the genre has been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.
[edit] US Billboard charted solo hits and significant singles
Pop R&B
1. Love Has Joined Us Together - #8 1955 Atlantic
/I Gotta Have You (with Ruth Brown) - -
2. Seven Days #44 #2 1956 Atlantic
3. TREASURE OF LOVE #16 #1 "
4. WITHOUT LOVE (There Is Nothing) #19 4 1957
5. Just To Hold My Hand #26 6
6. Thirty Days - -
7. Long Lonely Nights #49 1
8. Rock and Cry #93 -
9. COME WHAT MAY #43 3 1958
10. A LOVER'S QUESTION # 6 1 1958
11. Lovey Dovey #49 12 1959 Atlantic
12. I Told Myself a Lie #70 1959 MGM
13. Since You've Been Gone #39 14 1959 Atlantic
14. Twice As Nice #91 1959 MGM
15. You Went Back On Your Word #72 13 1959 Atlantic
16. Let's Try Again #48 13 1959 MGM
17. Just Give Me a Ring #96 1960 Atlantic
18. Deep Sea Ball/Let the Boogie-Woogie Roll - - "
19. Think Me a Kiss #66 1960 MGM
20. TA TA (Just Like a Baby) #23 7 1960 Mercury
21. This Is Not Goodbye
/One Right After Another - - 1960 MGM
22. Tomorrow Is a-Comin #103 - 1961 Mercury
23. /I'll Love You Til the Cows Come Home 110 -
24. A Whole Heap Of Love - -
25. I Never Knew #56 17 1961 "
26. Same Time Same Place - - 1961
27. LOVER PLEASE # 7 - 1962 "
28. Little Bitty Pretty One #25 - 1962 "
29. Maybe / I Do Believe - -
30. The Best Man Cried #118 -
31. From One To One 127 - 1963
32. Deep In the Heart of Harlem #90 90 1963 "
33. Second Window, Second Floor - - 1964
34. Baby Baby / Lucille - - 1964
35. Crying Won't Help You Now 117 22 1965 "
36. A Shot Of Rhythm and Blues - - 1966 Amy
/ I'm Not Going To Work Today
37. Sweet and Innocent /Lavender Lace - - 1967 Amy
38. Baby You Got It - - 1968 Deram
39. I'll Belong To You /Book Of Memories - - 1970 Decca
40. Why Can't We Get Together /Mixed Up Cup - - 1970 Decca
None of his several albums appeared on the charts, not just because they weren't top sellers, but because there weren't as many positions on the charts at that time.
