A Durham-born singer who was a pioneering figure in rhythm and blues and early rock and roll soon will be recognized with a North Carolina Highway Historical Marker. The N.C. Historical Marker Program is part of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
The marker commemorating the life and accomplishments of Clyde McPhatter will be dedicated Monday, Nov. 16 at 3 p.m. at the intersection of Pettigrew and Mangum streets in Durham, N.C.
Born Nov. 15, 1932, in Durham, McPhatter grew up in a Baptist family where music played an important role in his life. He sang in the church choir as a child and became a soprano soloist by age 10. His family moved to New Jersey in the mid-1940s, and later to New York City, where he helped establish the Mount Lebanon Singers, a gospel group based in Harlem.
In 1950, McPhatter won Amateur Night at the Apollo Theater and soon joined Billy Ward and His Dominoes as the group's lead tenor. His distinctive, gospel-influenced singing helped the group reach national audiences through its rhythm and blues recordings. He left the Dominoes in 1953 to sign with Atlantic Records and form a new vocal group, The Drifters.
As the original lead singer of The Drifters, McPhatter recorded several successful songs, including "Money Honey," which helped establish the group nationally. His time with the group ended in 1954 when he entered military service. After leaving the Army, he began recording as a solo artist in 1955.
McPhatter achieved success as a solo performer during the 1950s and early 1960s with recordings including "Treasure of Love," "Without Love (There Is Nothing)" and "A Lover's Question." His singing blended gospel traditions with rhythm and blues, influencing the development of popular music and generations of performers.
As musical trends changed, McPhatter's commercial success declined. He spent part of his later career performing in the United Kingdom before returning to the United States. He died June 13, 1972, in Teaneck, N.J., at age 39.
McPhatter was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist in 1987 and as a member of The Drifters in 1988, becoming the first performer to receive the distinction twice. He also was featured on a U.S. postage stamp in 1993 and inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in 2009.
For more information about the historical marker, please visit the Clyde McPhatter blog entry, or call (919) 814-6625.
The Highway Historical Marker Program is a collaboration between the N.C. departments of Natural and Cultural Resources and Transportation.
Clyde McPhatter link: https://www.dncr.nc.gov/blog/2026/10/20/clyde-mcphatter-ca-1932-1972-g-149
About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. At more than 100 sites across the state, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.