Darrell Banks
Darrell Banks | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Darrell Eubanks |
Born | Mansfield, Ohio, U.S. | July 25, 1937
Died | February 24, 1970 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | (aged 32)
Genres | Soul, northern soul |
Occupation(s) | Singer |
Years active | Until 1970 |
Labels | Revilot, Stax, Atco, Atlantic |
Darrell Banks (born Darrell Eubanks; July 25, 1937 – February 24, 1970) was an American soul singer. He had a hit with 1966's "Open the Door to Your Heart".
Background
Born in Mansfield, Ohio,[1] Banks grew up in Buffalo, New York, and learned to sing in gospel churches before choosing a career in secular music. He signed with Solid Hitbound Productions/Revilot Records, who released his 1966 single "Open the Door to Your Heart"[1] (which, curiously, is legally named "Baby Walk Right In"), written by Donnie Elbert.[2] When the single came out, Banks was credited as the songwriter instead of Elbert, and a protracted legal battle ensued; however, while the courts settled the matter (eventually in Elbert's favor), the tune scaled the US charts, peaking at No. 2 R&B and No. 27 on the Billboard Hot 100.
A second single, "Somebody (Somewhere) Needs You",[1] hit No. 34 R&B and No. 55 pop later that year.[3] Moving to Atco Records, he released the singles "Here Come the Tears" / "I've Got That Feelin" and "Angel Baby (Don't Ever Leave Me)" / "Look into the Eyes of a Fool" in 1967, neither of which charted.[1] Atco also released an album of his which included his Revilot singles. Atco subsidiary Cotillion Records released his last single under the Atlantic Records umbrella, "I Wanna Go Home" / "The Love of My Woman".
From there, Banks signed to Stax Records, who released another album of his in 1969 and two more non-charting singles. They would be Banks's last recordings; in February 1970, Banks was shot and killed by policeman Aaron Bullock in Detroit, Michigan, after Banks intervened in his affair with Banks's girlfriend, Marjorie Bozeman.[2]
In 2014 an online auction of the London Records pressing of "Open the Door to Your Heart" saw bids exceed £10,000. It was believed to be the only copy in circulation, the remainder of the stock having been destroyed when the rival label EMI won the rights to release the single.[4] It eventually sold for in excess of £14,000 (US$23,000).[5] Bank's recording of "Just Because Your Love Is Gone", released as a single on Stax Records in 1969 is also collectable, with Record Collector magazine listing its value at £100 in mint condition, although in 2009 a copy actually sold for twice that amount.[6]
Discography
- Darrell Banks Is Here! (Atco Records, 1967)
- Darrell Is Here to Stay (Stax Records, 1969)
- The Lost Soul (compilation, 1997)
References
- ^ a b c d Colin Larkin, ed. (1993). The Guinness Who's Who of Soul Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 15. ISBN 0-85112-733-9.
- ^ a b Biography, AllMusic
- ^ "Darrell Banks Songs • Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography". Musicvf.com.
- ^ "Soul fans in a spin over rare record". Bbc.co.uk. December 15, 2014. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
- ^ "Rare Darrell Banks Vinyl Sells For $23,000". Contactmusic.com. December 22, 2014. Retrieved August 15, 2019.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "DARRELL BANKS JUST BECAUSE YOUR LOVE IS GONE STAX 1969 - auction details". Popsike.com. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
External links
- The Darrell Banks Story
- Media Music Magna
- Darrell Banks at Find a Grave
- Darrell Banks discography at Discogs