Clyde McPhatter (November 15, 1932 – June 13, 1972) was an influential African-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" Read Full BioClyde McPhatter (November 15, 1932 – June 13, 1972) was an influential African-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", which was a huge hit in 1951, and was one of the earliest rock and roll records. After several more hits, 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.
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.
In 1950, McPhatter joined Billy Ward & the Dominoes, and was present for the recording of "Sixty Minute Man" Read Full BioClyde McPhatter (November 15, 1932 – June 13, 1972) was an influential African-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", which was a huge hit in 1951, and was one of the earliest rock and roll records. After several more hits, 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.
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.
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Seven Days
Clyde McPhatter Lyrics
Seven days, seven days
(Seven days, seven days)
And there's not a word from you
(And there's no word from you)
Seven days without love
(Seven days without love)
Tell me what am I to do
(Tell me what I'm to do)
Seven days I have cried
(Seven days I have cried)
How I long to feel your touch
(How I yearn for your touch)
Why'd you go, why'd you stray
(Why'd you go, why'd you stray)
When I loved you, oh, so much
(When I love you so much)
The phone won't ring at all
The clock is standing still
My tears are like the raindrops
Upon my windowsill
Seven days, lonely days
(Seven days, lonely days)
I have walked the floor for you
(I have walked the floor for you)
Seven days, seven days
(Seven days, seven days)
Won't you please say you're still true
(And I wonder if you're true)
Seven days, seven days
(Seven days, seven days)
I have been in misery
(I have been in misery)
Seven days, lonely days
(Seven days, lonely days)
Darling, please come back to me
(Seven days, seven days)
Darling, please come back to me
(Darling, please come back to me)
Contributed by Kaitlyn E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on specific lyrics, highlight them
cuppajoe1
An old favorite of mine. Clyde was always a huge talent.
James Schell
very unique voice...immense talent.
Alex Zinovenko
I always loved Doo Wop--and R&B and "soul: music of the 50's and 60's. It speaks to us on such an emotional level. The songs are raw, bare,, unabashed and unforgiven. They speak of the of the heart and soul THE WAY--the heart and soul are feeling RIGHT NOW! Which may alienate some-as the may have never felt the way a particular song has described.
Clyde (post Drifters era) has done a great job with this. i always loved his voice. It has that urgency to it, the one where you KNEW he was feeling what he was singing--if only for the moment and the now. When I am missing another, as I often do, this song comes to mind a lot.
2011TDG
Clyde sounds so good handsome and talented .Rest in peace Clyde. Tammy
william molloy
the fantastic clyde mcphatter--one great song!
S C
Ohhhh,, good one!!!!!!
Paul Joseph
Mesremising. Poor fellow? days without love. Least it made a good song. Would love to hear Richard doing this at his peak. Would have been over in about 90 minutes even with some slipping and slidiing. Oh my soul.