Clyde McPhatter
Clyde Lensley McPhatter (November 15, 1932 – June 13, 1972) was an American rhythm and blues, soul, and rock and roll singer. He was one of the most widely imitated R&B singers of the 1950s and early 1960s and was a key figure in the shaping of doo-wop and R&B. McPhatter's high-pitched tenor voice was steeped in the gospel music he sang in much of his early life. He was the lead tenor of the Mount Lebanon Singers, a gospel group he formed as a teenager. He was later the lead tenor of Billy Ward and his Dominoes and was largely responsible for the initial success of the group. After his tenure with the Dominoes, McPhatter formed his own group, the Drifters, and later worked as a solo performer. Only 39 at the time of his death, he had struggled for years with alcoholism and depression, and was, according to Jay Warner's On This Day in Music History, "broke and despondent over a mismanaged career that made him a legend but hardly a success." McPhatter left a legacy of over 22 years of recording history. He was the first artist to be inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, first as a solo artist and later as a member of the Drifters. Subsequent double and triple inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame are said to be members of the "Clyde McPhatter Club". |
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings (Results 1-25 of 46 records)
Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Atlantic | 1085 | 10-in. | 8/9/1953 | Gone | The Drifters ; Clyde McPhatter | vocalist | ||
Atlantic | 1087 | 10-in. | 6/28/1953 | Lucille | The Drifters ; Clyde McPhatter | composer, vocalist | ||
Atlantic | 1104 | 10-in. | 8/9/1953 | The way i feel | The Drifters ; Clyde McPhatter | vocalist | ||
Atlantic | 1105 | 10-in. | 8/9/1953 | Money honey | The Drifters ; Clyde McPhatter | vocalist | ||
Atlantic | 1152 | 10-in. | 11/12/1953 | Such a night | The Drifters ; Clyde McPhatter | vocalist | ||
Atlantic | 1153 | 10-in. | 11/12/1953 | Warm your heart | The Drifters ; Clyde McPhatter | vocalist | ||
Atlantic | 1154 | 10-in. | 11/12/1953 | Bip bam | The Drifters ; Clyde McPhatter | vocalist | ||
Atlantic | 1201 | 10-in. | 2/4/1954 | The bells of St. Mary's | The Drifters ; Clyde McPhatter | vocalist | ||
Atlantic | 1202 | 10-in. | 2/4/1954 | White Christmas | The Drifters ; Clyde McPhatter | vocalist | ||
Atlantic | 1203 | 10-in. | 2/4/1954 | Honey love | The Drifters ; Clyde McPhatter | vocalist, composer | ||
Atlantic | 1204 | 10-in. | 2/4/1954 | What'cha gonna do? | The Drifters ; Clyde McPhatter | vocalist | ||
Atlantic | 1229 | 10-in. | 3/14/1954 | Someday you'll want me to want you | The Drifters ; Clyde McPhatter | vocalist | ||
Atlantic | 1231 | 10-in. | 3/14/1954 | Try try baby | Clyde McPhatter | vocalist | ||
Atlantic | 1339 | 10-in. | 10/24/1954 | Everyone's laughing | Clyde McPhatter | vocalist | ||
Atlantic | 1341 | 10-in. | 10/24/1954 | Hot ziggity | Clyde McPhatter | vocalist | ||
Atlantic | 1649 | 10-in. | 8/25/1955 | I'm not worthy of you | Clyde McPhatter | vocalist, songwriter | ||
Atlantic | 1650 | 10-in. | 8/25/1955 | Seven days | Clyde McPhatter | vocalist | ||
Atlantic | 1652 | 10-in. | 8/29/1955 | I gotta have you | Ruth Brown ; Clyde McPhatter | vocalist | ||
Atlantic | 1653 | 10-in. | 8/29/1955 | Love has joined us together | Ruth Brown ; Clyde McPhatter | vocalist | ||
Atlantic | 1904 | 10-in. | 3/4/1956 | When you're sincere | Clyde McPhatter | vocalist | ||
Atlantic | 1906 | 10-in. | 3/4/1956 | I make believe | Clyde McPhatter | vocalist | ||
Atlantic | 1908 | 10-in. | 3/4/1956 | Treasure of love | Clyde McPhatter | vocalist | ||
Atlantic | 2060 | 10-in. | 7/26/1956 | I'm lonely tonight | Ray Ellis ; Clyde McPhatter | vocalist | ||
Atlantic | 2062 | 10-in. | 7/26/1956 | Thirty days | Ray Ellis ; Clyde McPhatter | vocalist | ||
Atlantic | 2155 | 10-in. | 10/10/1956 | Without love (there is nothing) | Danny Small | vocalist |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "McPhatter, Clyde," accessed September 11, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/330875.
McPhatter, Clyde. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved September 11, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/330875.
"McPhatter, Clyde." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 11 September 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
External Sources
Wikipedia: Clyde McPhatter
Discogs: Clyde McPhatter
Allmusic: Clyde McPhatter
Grove: Clyde McPhatter
IMDb: Clyde McPhatter
Britannica: Clyde McPhatter
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: McPhatter, Clyde - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n92010202
Wikidata: Clyde McPhatter - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q1103721
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/59270302
MusicBrainz: Clyde McPhatter - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/3c562ee6-4855-4a11-8411-5e9e6c10586a
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