- In full:
- Clyde Lensey McPhatter
- Born:
- Nov. 15, 1932, Durham, N.C., U.S.
- Died:
- June 13, 1972, New York, N.Y. (aged 39)
- Awards And Honors:
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum (1987)
Clyde McPhatter
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Who was Clyde McPhatter?
Clyde McPhatter (1932-1972) was a rhythm-and-blues singer whose emotional style foreshadowed soul music. McPhatter sang with Billy Ward and the Dominoes in the early 1950s before forming Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters. The Drifters had a hit song with "Money Honey." After being drafted into the army in 1954, he continued to record music and act in movies. After his discharge, he became a successful soloist, recording pop-oriented songs such as "Without Love (There Is Nothing)" and "A Lover's Question." McPhatter's career declined in the 1960s, and he struggled with alcoholism. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.
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What style of music did Clyde McPhatter sing?
Clyde McPhatter was a dramatic rhythm-and-blues singer whose emotional delivery foreshadowed soul music. His style was rooted in gospel, evident in his melismatic approach.
McPhatter's career included singing with Billy Ward and the Dominoes, and later, as the lead for Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters. As a soloist, he transitioned towards pop music, achieving hits like "Without Love (There Is Nothing)" and "A Loverâs Question." Later, his music became so pop-oriented that it didn't even chart on rhythm and blues charts.
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Which famous singing groups was Clyde McPhatter a part of?
Clyde McPhatter was a member of several famous singing groups. In the mid-1940s, he formed the Mount Lebanon Singers with some high school friends. In 1950, he joined Billy Ward and the Dominoes, becoming the lead singer. After being dropped from the Dominoes, McPhatter was approached by Ahmet Ertegun from Atlantic Records, leading to the formation of the Drifters in 1953. After serving in the U.S. Army, McPhatter left the Drifters in 1955 to pursue a solo career.
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How did Clyde McPhatter influence the development of rhythm and blues and rock and roll?
Clyde McPhatter was an influential American rhythm-and-blues singer whose emotional vocal style foreshadowed soul music. His gospel-derived style, marked by melismatic phrasing, significantly impacted both rhythm and blues and rock and roll. As the lead singer of Billy Ward and the Dominoes and later Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters, he achieved great success.
McPhatter's hit song "Money Honey" with the Drifters exemplified his unique vocal delivery. After his discharge from the army, he became a soloist. He then recorded pop-oriented material, such as "Without Love (There Is Nothing)" and "A Loverâs Question." McPhatter's pioneering work earned him induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.
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What are some of Clyde McPhatter's most popular songs?
Clyde McPhatter, an influential rhythm-and-blues singer, gained popularity in the 1950s. With Billy Ward and the Dominoes, McPhatter sang lead and helped the group become one of the eraâs preeminent vocal groups. Later, as Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters, he had a hit with "Money Honey," which showcased his gospel-derived style. In 1954, the group's recording of "White Christmas" was banned from the radio but still became a perennial seller.
After becoming a soloist, he recorded pop-oriented material, including the Top 20 hits "Without Love (There Is Nothing)" (1956), "A Loverâs Question" (1958), and the rhythm-and-blues hit "Lovey Dovey." In 1962, his hit "Lover Please" did not appear on the rhythm-and-blues charts.
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How is Clyde McPhatter remembered in music history today?
Clyde McPhatter is remembered as one of the most dramatic and influential vocalists of the 1950s. His emotional, gospel-derived style anticipated soul music, marking him as a pivotal figure in the transition from rhythm and blues to soul.
As the lead singer of Billy Ward and the Dominoes, and later Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters, he achieved significant success with hits like "Money Honey." After his discharge from the army, McPhatter became a soloist, and though he initially achieved pop success, his later material was not as successful, and he struggled with alcoholism. Despite the challenges he faced later in life, McPhatter was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, solidifying his place in music history.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Clyde McPhatter (born Nov. 15, 1932, Durham, N.C., U.S.âdied June 13, 1972, New York, N.Y.) was an American rhythm-and-blues singer popular in the 1950s whose emotional style anticipated soul music.
One of the most dramatic vocalists of his generation, McPhatter grew up in a devout Christian family that moved from North Carolina to New Jersey in the mid-1940s. There, together with some high school friends (including two of author James Baldwinâs brothers), he formed the Mount Lebanon Singers, who quickly found success on the gospel circuit. In 1950 a talent contest brought him to the attention of vocal coach Billy Ward, whose group he joined. With McPhatter singing lead, Billy Ward and the Dominoes became one of the eraâs preeminent vocal groups, but the martinetish Ward fired McPhatter in 1953 (replacing him with Jackie Wilson). Shortly thereafter, Atlantic Recordsâ Ahmet Ertegun sought to establish a new group around McPhatter, eventually recruiting former members of the Thrasher Wonders. As Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters, this group soon had a hit with âMoney Honey,â which perfectly showcased McPhatterâs melismatic, gospel-derived style. In 1954 their recording of Irving Berlinâs classic âWhite Christmasâ was banned from the radio because of alleged lewdness, yet it became a perennial seller. That fall McPhatter was drafted into the army but, stationed in New Jersey, was able to continue recording and appear in the film Mister Rock and Roll (1957).
Upon his discharge he became a soloist, with the Drifters continuing with other lead singers (most notably Ben E. King). Thereafter, he began to record increasingly pop-oriented material, including the pop Top 20 hits âWithout Love (There Is Nothing)â (1956) and âA Loverâs Questionâ (1958) as well as the rhythm-and-blues hit âLovey Dovey.â In 1960 he switched record labels, signing first with MGM, then with Mercury. His new material was so pop-oriented that his 1962 hit âLover Pleaseâ did not even show up on the rhythm-and-blues charts, and, after a mild success in 1965 with âCrying Wonât Help You Now,â the hits stopped coming, although his voice would have been perfect for the emerging style of soul. Slipping into alcoholism, he played the oldies circuit and died before his 40th birthday. McPhatter was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.
