Ballard
Hank Ballard is best known as the original writer and performer of "The Twist", made famous by Chubby Checker in 1960. An R&B favorite amongst American black audiences in the 50s and 60s, Ballard joined The Midnighters (originally named The Royals) who went on to achieve chart success with the provocatively charged single, "Get It", in 1953. Born John Henry Kendricks, November 18, 1927, in Detroit, Michigan, Ballard was employed at an automobile factory when he joined Henry Booth, Cal Green, Charles Sutton, and Sonny Woods to become the lead singer of The Midnighters. The band often faced pushback from radio stations and religious groups for their risqué lyrics yet still scored hits in 1954 with "Work With Me Annie", "Annie Had a Baby", and "Sexy Ways". Their 1959 hit "Teardrops on Your Letter" featured "The Twist" on the B-side, reaching Number 4 on the R&B charts and was later discovered by American Bandstand host Dick Clark who brought the song to the attention of Chubby Checker. The momentum caused by Checker's cover kept The Midnighters regularly in the charts until they disbanded in 1965. Ballard was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 and died on March 2, 2003 after a lengthy battle with throat cancer.
©Copyright Music Story Daniel Cole 2023
Discography
7 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
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SYZYGY (feat. Brett Garsed)
Rock - Released by Ballard music on 18 Nov 2022
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
Witch dance at Cabotina (feat. Colin Edwin)
Rock - Released by Ballard music on 10 Aug 2022
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
Everything Will Be Alright
Rock - Released by Rebecca Records on 5 Aug 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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I Can See Everything
Pop - Released by Rebecca Records on 1 Jan 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -