Larry Banks
Encyclopedia
Lawrence H. "Larry" Banks (3 October 1931 - 26 February 1992) was an American
R&B and soul
singer, songwriter, and record producer.
and grew up in the Flatbush
area of Brooklyn
. His father, Arthur Banks, was a bass
singer of religious and classical music, who also performed as a member of a barbershop
quartet.
In the early 1950s, Larry Banks served as a US Marine in the Korean War
, and on his return in 1953 formed a singing group, The Schemers, with former members of another group, The Four Toppers. This group soon broke up, and in 1954 Banks formed The Four Fellows, whose members were Banks (baritone), David Jones (first tenor), Jimmy McGowan (second tenor), and Teddy Williams (bass). Larry Banks wrote and arranged much of the group's material. They began performing in clubs in New York and on local TV shows, and first recorded for the independent Derby
label. They then moved to the Glory label set up by Phil Rose, formerly of Coral Records
. In 1955, their second release on Glory, "Soldier Boy", a song written by David Jones, reached # 4 on the national Billboard
R&B charts. The Four Fellows performed in shows organised by Alan Freed
and "Dr. Jive" (Tommy Smalls
), and on the black theater circuit with acts including The Moonglows
and Bo Diddley
. However, the group's later records were less successful. One of their final releases with the original line-up was as backing singers for Banks' wife Bessie, who at the time performed and recorded as Toni Banks, on her 1957 single, "You're Still In My Heart".
Larry Banks then left The Four Fellows and began working with his wife, although they separated in the early 1960s and later divorced; she recorded in the early 1960s as Bessie Banks
. In 1961 Larry Banks, along with brother-in-law Tony May, set up a music publishing company, Kev-Ton. A 1962 demo recording by Bessie of a song written by Larry with friend Milton Bennett, "Go Now
", was heard by songwriters and record producers Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
, who re-recorded it and released it in early 1964 on their Blue Cat
label, the R&B/soul imprint of Red Bird
. Although the record was not a substantial hit, it was later heard by English
beat group The Moody Blues
, who recorded the song and had an international hit, launching the band's career.
Larry Banks wrote and recorded under his own name in the early and mid 1960s, his first release being "Will You Wait" on the Select label. He also wrote and produced for other singers and groups, including Kenny Carter, The Cavaliers, The Geminis, The Exciters
, and The Pleasures, a group led by Joan Bates, who he later married and who recorded solo as Jaibi
. He recorded with his wife as "Lawrence and Jaibi". Many of his recordings and productions were undertaken for GWP Productions, whose records were released through the RCA
label. In 1979, Banks appeared with The Four Fellows at the United in Group Harmony show in New Jersey
. He continued to record and produce through the 1970s and 1980s.
Banks died from liver failure in 1992, aged 60, and was buried at the Calverton National Cemetery
, Long Island
.
Banks' recordings and productions, particularly with Bessie Banks and Jaibi, were among the favorites of English music historian and archivist Dave Godin
, the inventor of the term "Northern soul
" and producer of a number of critically acclaimed "deep soul" compilation albums. In 2007, a compilation of Banks' recordings as performer and producer, Larry Banks' Soul Family Album, was released by Ace Records.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
R&B and soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
singer, songwriter, and record producer.
Life and career
Banks was born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and grew up in the Flatbush
Flatbush, Brooklyn
Flatbush is a community of the Borough of Brooklyn, a part of New York City, consisting of several neighborhoods.The name Flatbush is an Anglicization of the Dutch language Vlacke bos ....
area of Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
. His father, Arthur Banks, was a bass
Bass (voice type)
A bass is a type of male singing voice and possesses the lowest vocal range of all voice types. According to The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, a bass is typically classified as having a range extending from around the second E below middle C to the E above middle C...
singer of religious and classical music, who also performed as a member of a barbershop
Barbershop music
Barbershop vocal harmony, as codified during the barbershop revival era , is a style of a cappella, or unaccompanied vocal music characterized by consonant four-part chords for every melody note in a predominantly homophonic texture...
quartet.
In the early 1950s, Larry Banks served as a US Marine in the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, and on his return in 1953 formed a singing group, The Schemers, with former members of another group, The Four Toppers. This group soon broke up, and in 1954 Banks formed The Four Fellows, whose members were Banks (baritone), David Jones (first tenor), Jimmy McGowan (second tenor), and Teddy Williams (bass). Larry Banks wrote and arranged much of the group's material. They began performing in clubs in New York and on local TV shows, and first recorded for the independent Derby
Derby Records
Derby Records was a short-lived, mid-20th century United States record label. The label's logo featured a Derby hat. First headquartered in New York City, it moved to Los Angeles California shortly before going out of business in 1964....
label. They then moved to the Glory label set up by Phil Rose, formerly of Coral Records
Coral Records
Coral Records was a Decca Records subsidiary formed in 1949. It recorded pop artists McGuire Sisters and Teresa Brewer, as well as rock and roller Buddy Holly....
. In 1955, their second release on Glory, "Soldier Boy", a song written by David Jones, reached # 4 on the national Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
R&B charts. The Four Fellows performed in shows organised by Alan Freed
Alan Freed
Albert James "Alan" Freed , also known as Moondog, was an American disc-jockey. He became internationally known for promoting the mix of blues, country and rhythm and blues music on the radio in the United States and Europe under the name of rock and roll...
and "Dr. Jive" (Tommy Smalls
Tommy Smalls
Tommy Smalls , known as Dr. Jive, was an influential African-American radio disc jockey in New York during the early days of rock and roll.-Life and career:...
), and on the black theater circuit with acts including The Moonglows
The Moonglows
The Moonglows were an American R&B and doo-wop group based in Cleveland, Ohio.-Early years:Originally formed in their native Louisville, Kentucky as the Crazy Sounds, the group moved to Cleveland, where disc jockey Alan Freed renamed them 'the Moonglows'...
and Bo Diddley
Bo Diddley
Ellas Otha Bates , known by his stage name Bo Diddley, was an American rhythm and blues vocalist, guitarist, songwriter , and inventor...
. However, the group's later records were less successful. One of their final releases with the original line-up was as backing singers for Banks' wife Bessie, who at the time performed and recorded as Toni Banks, on her 1957 single, "You're Still In My Heart".
Larry Banks then left The Four Fellows and began working with his wife, although they separated in the early 1960s and later divorced; she recorded in the early 1960s as Bessie Banks
Bessie Banks
Bessie Banks is an American soul singer, best known for her original recording of the Moody Blues’ hit song "Go Now".-Life and career:...
. In 1961 Larry Banks, along with brother-in-law Tony May, set up a music publishing company, Kev-Ton. A 1962 demo recording by Bessie of a song written by Larry with friend Milton Bennett, "Go Now
Go Now (song)
"Go Now" is a 1964 song composed by Larry Banks and Milton Bennett. It was first recorded by Bessie Banks, and most successfully by The Moody Blues.-Bessie Banks:The song was first recorded by Larry Banks' former wife, Bessie Banks...
", was heard by songwriters and record producers Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
Jerome "Jerry" Leiber and Mike Stoller were American songwriting and record producing partners. Stoller was the composer and Leiber the lyricist. Their most famous songs include "Hound Dog", "Jailhouse Rock", "Kansas City", "Stand By Me" Jerome "Jerry" Leiber (April 25, 1933 – August 22, 2011)...
, who re-recorded it and released it in early 1964 on their Blue Cat
Blue Cat Records
Blue Cat Records was the name of two unconnected record labels.Blue Cat Records ' was a subsidiary label of Red Bird Records. It had a hit in 1965 with "The Boy from New York City" by the Ad Libs....
label, the R&B/soul imprint of Red Bird
Red Bird Records
Red Bird Records was a record label started by American pop music songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller in 1964. Though often thought of as a "girl-group" label, female-led acts made up only 40% of the artist roster on Red Bird and its associated labels...
. Although the record was not a substantial hit, it was later heard by English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
beat group The Moody Blues
The Moody Blues
The Moody Blues are an English rock band. Among their innovations was a fusion with classical music, most notably in their 1967 album Days of Future Passed....
, who recorded the song and had an international hit, launching the band's career.
Larry Banks wrote and recorded under his own name in the early and mid 1960s, his first release being "Will You Wait" on the Select label. He also wrote and produced for other singers and groups, including Kenny Carter, The Cavaliers, The Geminis, The Exciters
The Exciters
The Exciters were an American pop music group of the 1960s. They were originally a girl group, although a male member was added later. The group consisted of lead singer Brenda Reid, her husband Herb Rooney, Carolyn Johnson and Lillian Walker....
, and The Pleasures, a group led by Joan Bates, who he later married and who recorded solo as Jaibi
Jaibi
Jaibi was the stage name of the American soul singer Joan Banks .-Life and career:Born Joan Pulliam, and later known as Joan Bates after her marriage to her first husband Anthony Bates Sr., she first recorded with a group, the Pleasures, in 1964-65...
. He recorded with his wife as "Lawrence and Jaibi". Many of his recordings and productions were undertaken for GWP Productions, whose records were released through the RCA
RCA
RCA Corporation, founded as the Radio Corporation of America, was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. The RCA trademark is currently owned by the French conglomerate Technicolor SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Technicolor...
label. In 1979, Banks appeared with The Four Fellows at the United in Group Harmony show in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. He continued to record and produce through the 1970s and 1980s.
Banks died from liver failure in 1992, aged 60, and was buried at the Calverton National Cemetery
Calverton National Cemetery
Calverton National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery located in eastern Long Island, the hamlet of Wading River, the Town of Riverhead in Suffolk County, New York...
, Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
.
Legacy
He was posthumously inducted into the United in Group Harmony Association's (UGHA) 8th Annual Hall of Fame as a member of the Four Fellows in 1998.Banks' recordings and productions, particularly with Bessie Banks and Jaibi, were among the favorites of English music historian and archivist Dave Godin
Dave Godin
David Edward Godin was an English fan of American soul music, who made a major contribution internationally in spreading awareness and understanding of the genre, and by extension African-American culture.-Biography:The son of a milkman, Dave Godin spent his early childhood in Peckham before...
, the inventor of the term "Northern soul
Northern soul
Northern soul is a music and dance movement that emerged from the British mod scene, initially in northern England in the late 1960s. Northern soul mainly consists of a particular style of black American soul music based on the heavy beat and fast tempo of the mid-1960s Tamla Motown sound...
" and producer of a number of critically acclaimed "deep soul" compilation albums. In 2007, a compilation of Banks' recordings as performer and producer, Larry Banks' Soul Family Album, was released by Ace Records.