Clyde McPhatter

Clyde McPhatter
Birth name	Clyde Lensley McPhatter[1]
Born	November 15, 1932(1932-11-15) Durham, North Carolina, U.S.
Died	June 13, 1972(1972-06-13) (aged 39) Teaneck, New Jersey, U.S.
Genres	R&B, soul, pop
Occupations	Singer
Years active	1950–1972
Associated acts	The Mount Lebanon Singers, Billy Ward & the Dominoes, The Drifters

Clyde McPhatter (November 15, 1932 – June 13, 1972) was an American R&B singer, perhaps the most widely imitated R&B singer of the 1950s and 1960s, making him a key figure in the shaping of doo-wop and R&B. He is best known for his solo hit "A Lover's Question". McPhatter was lead tenor for The Mount Lebanon Singers, a gospel group he formed as a teenager.^[2]; and later, lead tenor for Billy Ward and His Dominoes. After his tenure with the Dominoes, McPhatter formed his own group called The Drifters before going solo, leaving a legacy of over 22 years of recording history.

Life and career

Early life

Clyde Lensley McPhatter was born in the tobacco town community of Hayti, Durham, North Carolina, on November 15, 1932, and raised in a religious Baptist family; the son of the Rev. George McPhatter and wife Beulah (though some accounts refer to her as Eva). Starting at age five, he sang in his father's church gospel choir along with his three brothers and three sisters. When he was ten, Clyde was the soprano-voiced soloist for the choir. In 1945, the Rev. McPhatter moved his family to Teaneck, New Jersey where Clyde attended Chelsior High School. He worked part-time as a grocery store clerk, and eventually was promoted to shift manager upon graduating high school.^[3] The family then relocated to New York City, and Charlie White, The Baldwin formed the gospel group The Mount Lebanon Singers.^[4]

Membership in Billy Ward & The Dominoes (1950-53)

In 1950, after winning "Amateur Night" at Harlem's Apollo Theater, McPhatter returned to his job as store manager but later was recruited by Billy Ward & the Dominoes, and was present for the recording of "Sixty Minute Man" for Federal Records, a song sometimes regarded as the "first record of rock 'n roll," produced by Ralph Bass. (It is noteworthy to know that winning "Amateur night" at the Apollo is not an easy feat.)

Clyde's fervent, high-pitched tenor was a large part of the Dominoes' success. He was regarded as the main singer to infuse his gospel-steeped singing style into mainstream R&B, though blues singer Roy Brown was actually the first to do so. Although Brown started the trend, McPhatter was more widely imitated, and he was a much bigger influence in the shaping of Doo-Wop/R&B. In his book The Drifters, Bill Millar names Ben E. King, Smokey Robinson of the Miracles, Sammy Turner, and Marv Johnson among the vocalists who patterned themselves after McPhatter. "Most important," he concludes, "McPhatter took hold of the Ink Spots' simple major chord harmonies, drenched them in call-and-response patterns and sang as if he were back in church. In doing so, he created a revolutionary musical style from which---thankfully---popular music will never recover."^[5] Strangely, McPhatter didn't think much of his own singing abilities. The numerous Clyde McPhatter imitators tell a different story, namely Nolan Strong of The Diablos, Bobby Day, Dee Clark, and an unlikely Patsy Cline (listen to the two versions of "Someday you'll want me to want you;" the original version recorded in 1954 by McPhatter with the Drifters. Cline's delivery is imitative of the McPhatter version).

After recording several more songs, including "Have Mercy Baby", "Do Something for Me," and "The Bells," McPhatter quit The Dominoes in 1953. He was sometimes passed off as "Clyde Ward," Billy's little brother. Others assumed it was Billy Ward doing the lead singing. Because of such occurrences, and because he was frequently at odds with Ward, McPhatter quit the Dominoes, intent on making a name for himself. "I fell in love with the man's voice. I toured with the group and watched Clyde and listened..."---and apparently learned.^[6] Privately, McPhatter and Ward often argued, but publicly Clyde expressed his appreciation to Ward for giving him his start in show business.

Membership in The Drifters (1953-1954)

Ahmet Ertegun, founder of Atlantic Records, eagerly sought McPhatter after noticing he was not present for an appearance The Dominoes made at Birdland, which was "an odd booking for the Dominoes", in Ertegun's words.^[7] After locating him, McPhatter was then signed to Atlantic on the condition that he form his own group. C. They recorded a few tracks, including a song called "Lucille," written by McPhatter himself. This group of Drifters did not have the sound Atlantic executives were looking for, however, and Clyde was prompted to assemble another group of singers. The revised lineup recorded and released such hits as "Money Honey," "Such a Night," "Honey Love," "White Christmas" and "Whatcha Gonna Do," with the record label proudly displaying the group name " The Drifters." (The story of The Drifters is full of personnel changes.

In late 1954, McPhatter was drafted into the Army and assigned to Special Services in the continental United States, which allowed him to continue recording. After his tour of duty was up, he left The Drifters and launched a solo career.

Solo career

McPhatter's first solo hit occurred just after being discharged - "Love Has Joined Us Together" (with Ruth Brown). He released several R&B recordings in the next few years, including "Seven Days" (later a bigger hit for Tom Jones), "Treasure of Love," "Just to Hold my Hand", and his biggest solo hit, "A Lover's Question," written by Brook Benton and Clyde Otis, which peaked at No. 6 in 1958. In 1962, the song "Lover Please," written by country artist Billy Swan was released. His 1956 recording "Treasure of Love" saw his first solo No. 1 on the R&B charts and one week in the UK Singles Chart. It reached No. 16 on the U.S. Pop charts.

After leaving Atlantic Records, McPhatter then signed on with MGM Records, and released several more songs, including "I Told Myself a Lie" and "Think Me a Kiss" (1960) and his first single for Mercury Records "Ta Ta." He recorded more singles, including "I Never Knew" and his final Top Ten hit "Lover Please," which made it to No. 7 in 1962. It was after "Lover Please" that McPhatter saw a downward turn in his career, as musical styles and tastes were constantly changing during the 1960s.

In 1968, McPhatter moved to England, where he was still highly revered, and he was backed by UK band "ICE".

McPhatter returned to America in 1970, making a few appearances in rock 'n roll revival tours, but remaining mostly a recluse. Hopes for a major comeback with a Decca album were crushed on June 13, 1972, when Clyde McPhatter died in his sleep at the age of 39 from complications of heart, liver, and kidney disease, brought on by alcohol abuse - abuse that had been fueled by a failed career and the resentment he harbored towards the fans he felt had deserted him. In a 1971 interview with journalist Marcia Vance, McPhatter told Vance "I have no fans."

McPhatter was a resident of Teaneck, New Jersey at the time of his death from a heart attack on June 13, 1972.^[8] He was buried at George Washington Memorial Park in Paramus, New Jersey.^[9][10]

Ruth Brown acknowledged in her later years that McPhatter was the actual father of her son Ronald, born in 1954. Ron now tours occasionally with a show of Drifters songs.

Legacy and honors

In 1987 was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The Rockabilly Hall of Fame recognized his pioneering efforts.

The Original Drifters were inducted in the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1998.

The United States Postal Service issued a stamp in his honor in 1993.

The song "Money Honey" (1953) was inducted in the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.

Singles

Title	Peak Pop Billboard ranking	Peak R&B Billboard ranking	Year	Label
Money Honey (with The Drifters)	-	1	1953	Atlantic
Such a Night / Lucille (with The Drifters)	-	5	1954
Honey Love (with The Drifters)	21	1
Someday (You'll Want Me To Want You) (with The Drifters)	-	-
White Christmas (with The Drifters)	80	2
Love Has Joined Us Together /I Gotta Have You (with Ruth Brown)	-	8	1955
Seven Days	44	2	1956
Treasure of Love	16	1
Without Love (There Is Nothing)/I make Believe	19	4	1957
Just to Hold My Hand	26	6
Thirty Days	-	-
Long Lonely Nights	49	1
Rock and Cry	93	-
Come What May	43	3	1958
Lover Please	32	4
A Lover's Question	6	1
Lovey Dovey	49	12	1959	Atlantic
I Told Myself a Lie	70			MGM
Since You've Been Gone	39	14		Atlantic
Twice As Nice	91			MGM
You Went Back on Your Word	72	13		Atlantic
Let's Try Again	48	13		MGM
Just Give Me a Ring	96		1960	Atlantic
Deep Sea Ball / Let the Boogie-Woogie Roll	-	-
Think Me a Kiss	66			MGM
Ta Ta (Just Like a Baby)	23	7		Mercury
This Is Not Goodbye / One Right After Another	-	-		MGM
Tomorrow Is a-Comin	103	-	1961	Mercury
I'll Love You Til the Cows Come Home	110	-
A Whole Heap of Love	-	-
I Never Knew	56	17
Same Time Same Place	-	-
Lover Please	7	-	1962
Little Bitty Pretty One	25	-
Maybe / I Do Believe	-	-
The Best Man Cried	118	-
From One To One	127	-	1963
Deep In the Heart of Harlem	90	90
Second Window, Second Floor	-	-	1964
Baby Baby / Lucille	-	-
Crying Won't Help You Now	117	22	1965
A Shot of Rhythm and Blues / I'm Not Going to Work Today	-	-	1966	Amy
Sweet and Innocent / Lavender Lace	-	-	1967
Baby You Got It	-	-	1968	Deram
I'll Belong to You /Book of Memories	-	-	1970	Decca
Why Can't We Get Together / Mixed Up Cup	-	-

No album he recorded ever appeared on the charts.

References

1. ^ Clyde McPhatter : OLDIES.com
2. ^ Honkers And Shouters. The Golden Years Of Rhythm And Blues. Crowell-Collier Press, New York, 1978, pg. 381
3. ^ Honkers And Shouters. The Golden Years Of Rhythm And Blues. Crowell-Collier Press, New York, 1978, pg. 381
4. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p4880/biography
5. ^ Honkers And Shouters. The Golden Years Of Rhythm And Blues. Crowell-Collier Press, New York, 1978, pg. 384
6. ^ Honkers And Shouters. The Golden Years Of Rhythm And Blues. Crowell-Collier Press, New York, 1978, pg. 381.
7. ^ Honkers And Shouters. The Golden Years Of Rhythm And Blues. Crowell-Collier Press, New York, 1978, pg. 382
8. ^ via Associated Press. "Death Claims Hit Singer At Age of 41", Merced Sun-Star, June 16, 1972. Accessed September 13, 2011. "Clyde McPhatter, rhythm and blues singer in the early days of rock 'n' roll, died Tuesday in the Bronx of an apparent heart attack. He was 41 years old and lived in Teaneck, N.J."
9. ^ Browse by Cemetery: George Washington Memorial Park, Find A Grave, accessed April 6, 2007
10. ^ Strauss, Robert. "Sometimes the Grave Is a Fine and Public Place", The New York Times, March 28, 2004. Accessed September 13, 2011. "A decade before the Shirelles became famous, Clyde McPhatter started the Drifters. He had a heart attack and died at 40 in 1972; he's buried in George Washington Memorial Park in Paramus."

Persondata
Name	McPhatter, Clyde
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	November 15, 1932
Place of birth
Date of death	June 13, 1972
Place of death