Homer Banks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Homer Banks |
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| Background information | |
| Born | August 2, 1941 Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Died | April 3, 2003 (aged 61) Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Genres | Soul, Northern soul |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter |
| Years active | 1957–2003 |
| Labels | Stax, Minit |
Homer Banks (born August 2, 1941 – died April 3, 2003) was an amazing African American songwriter, singer, and record producer. He was super famous for writing songs for Stax Records in the 1960s and 1970s. Some of his own songs from the 1960s are also considered "Northern Soul" classics. This means they were very popular in dance clubs in Northern England. Many of the songs he wrote became popular hits for other artists.
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The Early Life and Music Journey of Homer Banks
Homer Banks was born in Memphis, Tennessee, in the United States. When he was 16, he started a gospel music group called the Soul Consolidators. They traveled around the southern states, often performing songs that Homer himself had written.
After serving in the military, Homer returned to Memphis in 1964. He began his singing career with a small record label called Genie. There, he met other talented musicians like Isaac Hayes and David Porter.
Working at Stax Records
Soon after, Estelle Axton, who helped start Stax Records, hired Homer. He worked at the record shop connected to Stax's Satellite Studios for three years. During this time, he also recorded music for the Minit label.
Homer released three songs that became very popular in England. These were "A Lot of Love" (1966), "60 Minutes of Your Love" (1966), and "Hooked By Love" (1967). All of these songs became "Northern Soul" classics. The song "A Lot of Love" even inspired the famous Spencer Davis Group hit "Gimme Some Lovin'" in 1966.
Homer Banks: A Talented Songwriter
Jim Stewart at Stax Records did not want to sign Homer as a singer. However, Stax eventually offered him a contract to write songs. This was a great decision!
Homer started working with another writer named Allen Jones. Together, they wrote songs for famous artists like Johnnie Taylor and Sam and Dave. He also wrote "I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down", which later became a hit in the UK for Elvis Costello.
Homer had even bigger success writing for the Staple Singers. He wrote their first song for Stax, "Long Walk to DC". He also wrote some of their biggest hits, including "If You're Ready (Come Go with Me)".
In 1968, Homer formed a songwriting team called We Three. He worked with Bettye Crutcher and Raymond Jackson. Homer also wrote, with Jackson and Carl Hampton, the song "(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right". This song was first recorded by The Emotions. It became a huge hit when Luther Ingram recorded it. Many other singers, like Isaac Hayes, Millie Jackson, Barbara Mandrell, Rod Stewart, and Cassandra Wilson, also recorded this popular song.
Homer's twin brother, James Banks, also worked for Stax. James helped write the company's last big hit, Shirley Brown's "Woman to Woman".
Later Career and Legacy
After Stax Records closed down, Homer Banks and Carl Hampton signed a deal with A&M Records. They moved to California and continued to write songs.
In 1977, Homer and Carl released an album called Passport to Ecstasy under the name Banks and Hampton. It was released by Warner Bros. Records.
In the 1980s, Homer started his own recording company called Two's Company with Lester Snell. They released albums by artists like J. Blackfoot and Ann Hines. In 1983, Homer, Reginald Jenkins, and Chuck Brooks started Sound Town Records, Inc. They released a top twenty album for J. Blackfoot called City Slicker. This album included the R&B top five single "Taxi", which Homer wrote and produced with Chuck Brooks. Homer and Chuck also produced the Intimate Storm album. This album had four singles that made it onto the Billboard R&B chart.
Homer Banks passed away in Memphis from cancer when he was 61 years old. His music and songwriting continue to be loved by many.
Famous Compositions by Homer Banks
Homer Banks co-wrote many popular songs. With Carl Hampton, he wrote "I've Got a Feeling (We'll Be Seeing Each Other Again)". This song was recorded by Al Wilson. It reached number 43 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in July 1976.
Banks and Hampton also wrote "(Too Little in Common to Be Lovers) Too Much Going to Say Goodbye" for The Newcomers in 1974. Parts of this song were later used in Aaliyah's 2001 song "I Care 4 U". This shows how his music continued to influence artists for many years.
