Clyde McPhatter (November 15, 1932 – June 13, 1972) was an influential Afri… Read Full Bio ↴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", 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", 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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Singles File - Clyde Mcphatter
Clyde McPhatter Lyrics
A Lover's Question Does she love me, with all her heart Should I worry,…
Come What May I am yours and you are mine Come what may Love like…
Deep Sea Ball Deep in the ocean at the catfish hall All of the…
Don't Dog Me Well, you don′t want a lover What you want is a…
Heartaches Heartaches Heartaches My loving you meant only heartaches Yo…
I Can't Stand up Alone One of these days I will take a vacation By a quiet…
I Do Believe Won't you try try baby, love me one more time Try…
I Never Knew I never knew Love could be so cold I never knew How true…
I Told Myself A Lie I told myself a lie When I said I had no…
I'm Lonely Tonight If you think I miss you After you said we're through Well,…
If I Didn't Love You Like I Do Won't you try try baby, love me one more time Try…
Just Give Me A Ring When love has come and gone And you feel so all…
Just to Hold My Hand I want to know do you love me? Tell me do…
Let's Forget About The Past Let′s forget about the past Cause it can't be undone I reali…
Let's Try Again Let's make a goal Of the love we used to share That…
Little Bitty Pretty One Mhm-mhm-mhm-mhm-mhm-mhm-mhm-mhm Mhm-mhm-mhm-mhm-mhm-mhm-mhm-…
Long Lonely Nights Long, long and lonely nights I cry my eyes out over…
Lover Please Lover please, please come back Don't take a train coming dow…
Lovey Dovey Well, you're the cutest thing that I did ever see I…
My Island Of Dreams I wandered the streets and the gay crowded places Trying to…
No Matter What No matter what I have It′s yours to share No matter where…
Rock And Cry A read a story the other day Guaranteed to tell you How…
Seven Days Seven days, seven days (Seven days, seven days) And there'…
Since You've Been Gone Song code: 125616 Early in the mornin' Before the crack of…
Think Me A Kiss Think me a kiss, whoa, oh Think me a kiss, come…
Thirty Days I'm gonna give you thirty days to get back home I…
Treasure of Love The treasure of love, is easy to find It's waiting for…
Twice As Nice I've been faithful I've been true I've done everything Yo…