Died On This Date (June 13, 1972) Clyde McPhatter / The Drifters
themusicsover Clyde McPhatter
November 15, 1932 – June 13, 1972
Clyde McPhatter was one of the most influential R&B singers of the ’50s and ’60s, both as leader of the Drifters and later as a solo artist. His hits included “Treasure Of Love,” “A Lover’s Question,” and “I Never Knew.” What separated him from the pack of R&B crooners was his ability to cross over to a white audience, likely due to the fact that white artists liked to cover his songs, which in turn gave them greater success. His ability to reach the pop audience became the blueprint for such followers as Sam Cooke, Ben E. King, and even Smokey Robinson. McPhatter continued to record into the late ’60s, but failed to get the momentum needed to make him the superstar he deserved to be. Years of alcoholism may have played a role in that. He moved to England for a couple of years to try to capitalize on the fan base he still had over there, but came back to the US where he died of a heart attack attributed to the years of alcohol abuse.
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At 105 years old, Huey Long was the last surviving member of Doo Wop legends, the Ink Spots. Long’s career began back in 1925 as a banjoist for one of Houston’s most popular Dixieland bands of the ’20s, Frank Davis’ Louisiana Jazz Band. He later moved to Chicago and switched to the more popular guitar. In 1944, he was asked to join the Ink Spots with whom he stayed for the next 40 years. Long passed away of natural causes on June 10, 2009.
