Harlem

“Clyde McPhatter’s high tenor takes off like a guided missile. It soars higher and higher until it hits its target…dead center and explodes…blowin’ you mind”
-Matt The Cat
CLYDE McPHATTER

Clyde McPhatter should be remembered as one of the most influential of the early ’50s R&B; singers. His sweet, angelic tenor was first put to gospel singing, but in 1950, it turned to secular music when Clyde joined Billy Ward & The Dominoes. After scoring numerous hits with The Dominoes, McPhatter left to form his OWN group, The Drifters. Depression, alcoholism and the changing sound of R&B; would eventually ruin his career and his life, but this week HARLEM remembers one of the true great, CLYDE McPHATTER.

HARLEM airs on the 50s on 5:
Monday 1/30 @ 1pm over NYC
Tuesday 1/31 @ 9pm PST – midnight EST
Friday 2/3 @ 6pm EST
Sunday 2/5 @ 11am over Boston

Hey Everybody, did ya hear the news?
Cleanhead’s coming to town
To shout some BLUES!!

Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson

Even though most people don’t know his name, Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson certainly left his mark on jump blues from the late 1940s through the 1980s. He was signed to King Records during their heyday, along with fellow blues shouters Wynonie “Mr. Blues” Harris and Roy Brown. This week, Matt The Cat pays Cleanhead the respect he so deserves on the 50s on 5’s HARLEM.

HARLEM airs on XM5:
Monday 1/23 @ 1pm EST
Tuesday 1/24 @ midnight over LA and 9pm over NYC
Friday 1/27 @ 6pm EST
Sunday 1/29 @ 11am over Boston