Clyde McPhatter
Clyde Lensley McPhatter was born on November 15, 1932, in Durham, North Carolina, as one of six children. The McPhatter family relocated to New York City in late 1950. Clyde began his music career singing with gospel groups before joining Billy Ward's Dominoes. The Dominoes signed with King Records in 1950, and McPhatter's lead vocals on "Sixty Minute Man" made it a chart-topping R&B hit in 1951, marking the first crossover success from R&B to pop charts for a black group. Despite the success, McPhatter left the group in 1953 due to financial dissatisfaction.
Atlantic Records offered McPhatter the opportunity to form his own group, which became The Drifters. As their leader, he achieved hits like "Money Honey," "Such a Night," and "White Christmas." McPhatter left The Drifters to pursue a solo career, which began with a successful duet with Ruth Brown and hits like "Treasure of Love" and "A Lover's Question."
McPhatter's solo career continued with Mercury Records, yielding hits such as "Ta Ta" and "Lover Please." However, personal struggles with alcoholism and unreliability began to affect his career. After a stint in England, McPhatter returned to the U.S. in the early 1970s and recorded his final album, "Welcome Home," with Decca Records. Unfortunately, his career and life were cut short by a heart attack on June 13, 1972, in New York City.
In recognition of his influence, McPhatter was honored posthumously with a U.S. Postal Service stamp in June 1993.
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