Hank Ballard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hank Ballard
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In 1954
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | John Henry Kendricks |
| Born | November 18, 1927 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | March 2, 2003 (aged 75) Los Angeles, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, musician |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1951–2003 |
| Labels | Federal, King, People |
| Associated acts | The Midnighters |
Hank Ballard (born John Henry Kendricks; November 18, 1927 – March 2, 2003) was an American singer and songwriter. He was the main singer for the group The Midnighters. Hank Ballard was one of the first rock and roll artists in the early 1950s. He helped shape this new music style. With the Midnighters, he released popular songs like "Work With Me, Annie" and "Annie Had a Baby". He also wrote and first recorded "The Twist" in 1959. This song became a huge hit when Chubby Checker covered it a year later, making the "Twist" dance famous worldwide. Hank Ballard was honored in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
John Henry Kendricks was born in Detroit, Michigan. After his father passed away, he and his brother, Dove Ballard, moved to Bessemer, Alabama. He lived with his aunt and uncle there. Hank started singing in church, which is where many singers get their start. A big inspiration for him was the "Singing Cowboy," Gene Autry. He especially loved Autry's song, "Back in the Saddle Again". As a teenager, Hank moved back to Detroit. He worked on the assembly line for the Ford Motor Company before becoming a full-time musician.
Hank Ballard and The Midnighters
In 1953, Hank Ballard joined a doo-wop group called the Royals. Doo-wop is a style of music with strong vocal harmonies. The group had been discovered by Johnny Otis and signed with Federal Records. Hank joined Henry Booth, Charles Sutton, Sonny Woods, and Alonzo Tucker in the group.
The Royals released a song called "Get It" in 1953. It became a hit, reaching number 6 on the Billboard R&B chart. To avoid being confused with another group, the "5" Royales, they changed their name to the Midnighters.
In 1954, Hank Ballard wrote "Work with Me, Annie". This song became the Midnighters' first really big R&B hit. It stayed at number 1 on the R&B charts for seven weeks. It also sold well to a wider audience. They had a few more R&B hits in 1954 and 1955.
By 1959, the group was known as "Hank Ballard and The Midnighters." They released "Teardrops on Your Letter," which was a number 4 R&B hit. The other side of that record was a song Hank wrote called "The Twist". A few months later, Chubby Checker recorded his own version of "The Twist." Checker's version became a number 1 pop hit. It even reached number 1 again in 1962. This made "The Twist" the only song in the rock and roll era to hit number 1 in two different years.
Hank Ballard and the Midnighters had more hit singles in the early 1960s. These included "Finger Poppin' Time" and "Let's Go, Let's Go, Let's Go". These songs reached numbers 7 and 6 on the Billboard pop charts. The group stopped performing together in 1965.
Later Music Career
After the Midnighters broke up, Hank Ballard started a solo career. In 1968, his song "How You Gonna Get Respect (When You Haven't Cut Your Process Yet)" was his biggest solo hit. It reached number 15 on the R&B chart. The famous musician James Brown produced Hank Ballard's album You Can't Keep a Good Man Down in 1969.
In 1972, a song called "From the Love Side" was released. It was credited to Hank Ballard and the Midnight Lighters. This song reached number 43 on the R&B chart. Hank Ballard also appeared on James Brown's 1972 album, Get on the Good Foot.
In the mid-1980s, Hank Ballard brought The Midnighters back together. The group continued to perform until 2002.
Death
Hank Ballard passed away on March 2, 2003. He was 75 years old. He died from throat cancer at his home in Los Angeles. He was buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Atlanta, Georgia.
Legacy and Recognition
Hank Ballard's influence on rock and roll music is very important. In 1990, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The other members of the Midnighters were inducted later, in 2012.
In 2010, Hank Ballard & The Midnighters were also voted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame. Hank Ballard was the great uncle of NFL player Christian Ballard.
Discography
Hank Ballard released several solo albums during his career. He also released many singles, both with The Midnighters and as a solo artist. His songs often appeared on the US Pop and R&B charts.
Solo albums
- A Star in Your Eyes (1964)
- You Can't Keep a Good Man Down (1968)
- Hanging with Hank (1976)
Notable Singles
Hank Ballard and The Midnighters had many hit singles, including:
- "Work with Me, Annie" (1954)
- "Annie Had a Baby" (1954)
- "Annie's Aunt Fannie" (1954)
- "It's Love Baby (24 Hours A Day)" (1955)
- "Teardrops on Your Letter" (1959)
- "The Twist" (1959)
- "Kansas City" (1959)
- "Finger Poppin' Time" (1960)
- "Let's Go, Let's Go, Let's Go" (1960)
- "The Hoochi Coochi Coo" (1961)
- "The Switch-A-Roo" (1961)
- "Nothing but Good" (1961)
As a solo artist, his notable single was:
- "How You Gonna Get Respect (When You Haven't Cut Your Process Yet)" (1968)
See also
In Spanish: Hank Ballard para niños
