Have Mercy Baby: The Life of Clyde McPhatter by Steve Bergsman arrives February 18, 2026 as part of the American Made Music Series, offering a detailed portrait of one of early rock and roll’s most influential voices. McPhatter’s soaring tenor helped define the genre, from his breakthrough with The Dominoes to founding The Drifters and launching a solo career that reshaped rhythm and blues.
Born in North Carolina and steeped in gospel tradition, McPhatter brought spiritual fervor to the R&B stage. His vocals on “Sixty Minute Man” and “Have Mercy Baby” helped propel doo-wop into the mainstream. At Atlantic Records, he guided The Drifters to success with “Money Honey,” playing a central role in the label’s rise as a cornerstone of American R&B.
As a solo artist, McPhatter scored crossover hits including “A Lover’s Question” and “Treasure of Love,” expanding his influence even further. He remains one of the few artists inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Yet behind the spotlight, he faced the pressures of fame, personal struggles and isolation.
Drawing on exclusive interviews with family members and close associates, Bergsman presents the most comprehensive account to date of McPhatter’s life and legacy. The book honors a pioneering artist whose voice laid the foundation for soul, rock and R&B, and whose influence continues to echo decades later.