Author Event: Steve Bergsman in conversation with David Menconi

Join Page 158 Books to welcome author Steve Bergsman to discuss his novel, Have Mercy Baby: The Life of Clyde McPhatter. He will be in conversation with David Menconi.

The most complete biography of the powerhouse tenor and architect of soul, doo-wop, and early rock 'n' roll

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.

Steve Bergsman is a longtime journalist who has written over a dozen books. His recent ones include coauthorship with Carol Connors of Elvis, “Rocky” and Me; Earth Angels: The Short Lives and Controversial Deaths of Three R&B Pioneers; What a Difference a Day Makes: Women Who Conquered 1950s Music; All I Want Is Loving You: Popular Female Singers of the 1950s; and coauthorship with Rosa Hawkins of Chapel of Love: The Story of New Orleans Girl Group the Dixie Cups, the latter three published by University Press of Mississippi. Ronald Isley is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is the lead singer and founding member of the family music group The Isley Brothers.

David Menconi is a journalist, music critic, and author based in Raleigh, North Carolina. His most recent book is Step It Up and Go: The Story of North Carolina Popular Music from Blind Boy Fuller and Doc Watson to Nina Simone and Superchunk.

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