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.
What'Cha Gonna Do
Clyde McPhatter Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'What'Cha Gonna Do' by these artists:
2Pac Hell yeah And ugh I started out dumb sprung off a hood…
Akon ft. Juvenile [Chorus]x2 See im a real G from head to toe The whole…
Burgess Sonny and i'm going home let the motor roll. spend rest…
Clyde McPhatter The Drifters Doo-Doo-Doo-Doo-OH-OH Doo-Doo-Doo-Doo Tell me whatcha gonna…
Cowboy Mouth St Louis, hot summer Got the sudden urge to call my…
Danni Leigh (Kevin Welch) Where you gonna go, babe When the sun goes do…
Eternal One, two What'cha gonna do One, two What'cha gonna do *One,…
Jayo Felony feat. Method Man & DMX Uh, uh What, what Yeah, yeah (uh) Uh-huh uh, uh Uh-huh uh, u…
Kris & Rita There comes a time when you got to draw your…
Lee Curtis & The All Stars Though you don't call anymore I sit and wait in vain I…
New Kids on the Block Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, baby. Girl, you've done…
O.C. Smith We could talk it out all night Till the morning light And…
Pablo Cruise Whatcha gonna do when she says goodbye Whatcha gonna do when…
Phillip & The Faithfuls You are not a victim, We both played a part So…
Sonny Burgess and i'm going home let the motor roll. spend rest…
T-Squad Whatchu gonna do when you're momma finds out You lied? you…
Terry Johnson Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, baby. Girl, you've done …
The Isley Brothers All night and day, just chippin' away It's all in a…
Tupac (f. Young Noble Kastro) Hell yeah And ugh I started out dumb sprung off a hood…
We Five What'cha gonna do when your baby leaves you? What'cha gonna…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Clyde McPhatter:
A Lover 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 In The Heart Of Harlem A dog barking at the crack of dawn A baby's crying…
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…
From One To One Mhm-mhm-mhm-mhm-mhm-mhm-mhm-mhm Mhm-mhm-mhm-mhm-mhm-mhm-mhm-…
Gone Early in the mornin, before the crack on dawn I'm sitting…
Heartache Heartaches Heartaches My loving you meant only heartaches Yo…
Honey Love Love me, love me, love me, love me, lo Love me,…
How Deep Is The Ocean How much do I love you? I'll tell you no lie How…
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 Gonna Be A Wheel Someday I'm gonna be a wheel someday I'm gonna be somebody I'm gonna…
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 Hold My Hand I want to know do you love me? Tell me do…
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…
Lover's Question Does she love me, with all her heart Should I worry,…
Lovey Dovey Well, you're the cutest thing that I did ever see I…
Lucille Lucille, you won't do your daddy's will Lucille, you won't d…
Money Honey You know, the landlord rang my front door bell I let…
My Island Of Dreams I wandered the streets and the gay crowded places Trying to…
night Do, da doby doby do Da doby doby do Da doby doby…
No Matter What No matter what I have It′s yours to share No matter where…
please please please Lover please, please come back Don't take a train coming dow…
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…
Since You’ve Been Gone Early in the mornin, before the crack on dawn I'm sitting…
Sixty Minute Man Sixty-minute man, sixty-minute man Look a here girls I'm te…
Spanish Harlem There is a rose in Spanish Harlem A red rose up…
Such A Night T was a night mmm, what a night it was…
Ta Ta When I hold my baby tight With all my might I tell…
The Bells The bells of St.Mary's I hear they are calling The young lov…
The Treasure Of Love The treasure of love, is easy to find It's waiting for…
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…
Warm Your Heart Well, we're all searching for peace of mind Love in…
When The Swallows Come Back To Capistrano When the swallows come back to Capistrano That's the day you…
White Christmas I'm dreaming of a white Christmas Just like the ones I…
Without Love I awakened this morning, I was filled with despair All my…
You Early in the mornin, before the crack on dawn I'm sitting…
You're Moving Me If I take you by the hand And tell you I'm…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
More Genres
No Artists Found
More Artists
Load All
No Albums Found
More Albums
Load All
No Tracks Found
Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Search results not found
Song not found
Cedric Lance
My mother and aunt will never die as long as I can hear this song. Rip Margaret and Irene .
Al Escamilla
An all time R & B Classic sung by one of the all time singers Clyde McPhatter and the classic 50's Drifters ...
Katherine Hague
clyde's voice is one of the most unique of doo-wop. I love almost everything he touches. His voice has personality.
grant smythe
Tremendous personality and it's as smooth as velvet.
BrianRocks
ROCK AND ROLL
TheBaylor22
It doesn't get any better than this! Great background, and one of the great lead singers of all time!
Paul Mason
My # one singer at 11yrs old and now 81yrs old still my # one singer!
Talah A.
Amazing!!!
anthony gretton
I'm 70 now but I love the voice of the Original Drifter. Saw him on several occasions in the UK. The highlight being when he sang a duet with Mr Benjamin Earl Nelson (Ben E King) at an all nighter at the Queens Hall Leeds. Bring back those wonderful innocent days xxx
Brandon Foley
@anthony gretton Both iconic leads of the Drifters from the two most successful eras.