Have Mercy Baby

The Life of Clyde McPhatter

Steve Bergsman

• Publisher: University Press of Mississippi
• Year: 2026
• Topic: Social Sciences
• eBook ISBN:
  9781496861290
• Subtopic: Music Biographies
• Index: Social Sciences

Clyde McPhatter (1932–1972) was the golden voice behind a musical revolution—a soaring tenor whose electrifying performances helped define the sound of early rock 'n' roll. From his breakthrough with the Dominoes to founding the Drifters and launching a solo career, McPhatter left an indelible mark on American music, becoming one of the few artists inducted twice into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Born into the gospel traditions of North Carolina, McPhatter brought spiritual intensity to the rhythm-and-blues stage. His vocals on "Sixty Minute Man" and "Have Mercy Baby" helped transform doo-wop into a national sensation. At Atlantic Records, he not only led the Drifters to chart success with songs like "Money Honey," but also helped shape the label's rise as a cornerstone of American R&B.

As a solo artist, McPhatter continued to break barriers with crossover hits like "A Lover's Question" and "Treasure of Love." But behind the spotlight, he faced mounting pressures—from the isolating toll of fame to speculation about his personal life—all of which contributed to his struggles with depression and alcoholism.

Drawing on exclusive interviews with family members and close associates, Have Mercy Baby offers the most comprehensive portrait to date of a musical pioneer. More than a voice of his generation, Clyde McPhatter laid the groundwork for soul, rock, and R&B artists for decades to come. His influence still echoes, even as his life reminds us of the cost of being ahead of one's time.

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication
• Contents
• Foreword
• Chapter One: Sixty Minute Man
• Chapter Two: I’d Be Satisfied
• Chapter Three: What’cha Gonna Do
• Chapter Four: These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You)
• Chapter Five: Money Honey
• Chapter Six: Such a Night
• Chapter Seven: Bip Bam
• Chapter Eight: Treasure of Love
• Chapter Nine: Without Love (There Is Nothing)
• Chapter Ten: A Lover’s Question
• Chapter Eleven: Lovey Dovey
• Chapter Twelve: There You Go
• Chapter Thirteen: Lover Please
• Chapter Fourteen: Crying Won’t Help You Now
• Chapter Fifteen: Deep In the Heart of Harlem
• Honors and Awards
• Selected Discography
• Research and Acknowledgments
• Notes
• Index
• About the Author