Clyde McPhatter was born in Durham’s Hayti November 15th, 1932. The music he made with the Dominoes, Drifters, and as a ...

Clyde McPhatter was born in Durham’s Hayti November 15th, 1932. The music he made with the Dominoes, Drifters, and as a solo artist is foundational to modern popular music, yet still underrated. In both harder R&B (“Money Honey”) and softer balladry, McPhatter’s high tenor left an indelible imprint on Jackie Wilson, Sam Cooke, Smokey Robinson, Ruth Brown, Elvis, and Wanda Jackson (to name a few). In other words, in the late 50s and early 60s, McPhatter drew up the blueprint the burgeoning genres of soul, rock and roll, and rockabilly. In an era of bad record and management deals, McPhatter never got his financial due. And when his solo career post-Atlantic Records releases failed to catch fire, McPhatter never recovered. At 41, McPhatter died too soon, but not before definitely reshaping American music. alt. text: a smiling man in a suit and tie, hands clasped together Image credit: Portrait of Clyde McPhatter, General Artists Corporation/Marvin Drager (public domain), 1959.