Hank Ballard, singer and writer of 'The Twist,' dies

Associated Press ^ | March 3, 2003 | Associated Press Staff

[MeekOneGOP]

Rest in peace, Hank Ballard ...

Hank Ballard & The Midnighters

[philo]

Ouch, really loved this guy's music.

I just love your Sexy Ways

[MeekOneGOP]

bttt ...

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

Oh no! Hank and the Midnighters made some of my fave greazy r&b! The "Annie"songs, "Finger Poppin' Time", "Let's Go, Let's Go, Let's Go" - damn! First Fred Rodgers, now Hank B. -lousy week...

[speedy]

A wondeful man indeed. I knew him for a brief period in the late 1980s. His original version of "The Twist" was very similar to Chubby's, but just a bit edgier, and it was Hank's edginess that made Dick Clark more comfortable with the Chubby Checker approach. "The Twist" was in fact the B side of a song called "Teardrops On Your Letter." RIP, Hootchy-Kootchy Koo man.

[MeekOneGOP]

You knew him, Speedy? How nice! Thanks ...

[Sacajaweau]

We "twisted" through the night. The next day, every muscle ached. I was in agony. But it was worth it!!!

[AGreatPer]

I knew him too. In fact my group, the Four Checkers, did a multiple city tour with him and other groups on a bus in 1959. We were the only white group.

RIP Hank.

[MeekOneGOP]

Thanks. bttt ...

[speedy]

I met Hank when I was doing part-time radio work in New Mexico and he came on my show when he was appearing in Santa Fe. We had a great two hours on the air -- he talked about his early days in the business and the characters he had dealt with at King Records -- and we stayed in touch off and on for some time afterward. At least the side I saw of him was an uncomplaining, approachable man who loved to perform. He was probably a little wilder in his younger days, but weren't we all. I recall him saying that a major influence on his writing was Clyde McPhatter. And does anybody remember "Henry's Got Flat Feet"?

[PJ-Comix]

One year later, Chubby Checker debuted his own version of "The Twist" on Dick Clark's Philadelphia television show.

Chubby Checker turned 75 just a few days ago.

[MeekOneGOP]

Wow. Thank you for sharing that with us, Speedy ...

I recall him saying that a major influence on his writing was Clyde McPhatter. And does anybody remember "Henry's Got Flat Feet"?

I'm afraid I don't. But Google Search certainly does ! ...

And on this site I found this:

CLYDE McPHATTER
Born: 1931 - Died: Jun 13, 1972
Trivia: Started to work with Billy Ward & the Dominoes in 1950. Formed the Drifters in 1953.
Songs: A Lover's Question/The Bells/Chicken Blues/The Deacon Moves In/Deep Sea Blues/Do Something For Me/Have Mercy Baby/Honey Love/I Am With You/I'd Be Satisfied/Little Bitty Pretty One/Long Lonely Nights/Lovey Dovey/Money Honey/No Says My Heart/Pedal Pushing Pappa/Rock And Cry/Sixty Minute Man/Such A Night/That's What You're Doing To Me/These Foolish Things/Treasure Of Love/Warm Your Heart/Weeping Willow Blues/What Cha Gonna Do/White Christmas/Without Love - just to mention a few.
The EP connection: "Money Honey" & "Such A Night" was recorded by Elvis.

---

And here's a really nice picture of him I found here (click on the pic):

Clyde McPhatter

[MeekOneGOP]

He did? Well happy (belated) birthday, Chubby Checker !!

[Revolting cat!]

Clyde McPhatter! Oh my goodness, there was no one better!

[speedy]

Thanks for the research, MeeknMing. I agree with cat that there were none better than McPhatter. Astonishing voice and ability to convey emotion. The only good thing I can say about Jesse Jackson is that I heard once that he is a major collector of McPhatter records. But I'm feeling sad about Hank now -- he had an amazing knowledge of all kinds of music, including opera and classical and country and western. I think I'm going to go in and listen to his greatest hits now. There's a thrill up on the hill, let's go, let's go, let's go. And hey cat, how about a plug for Johnny Ace while you're at it?

[philo]

I recall seeing Sleepy Labeef on stage saying " We'd like to do an old Hank Ballard tune for ya now, but we're gonna put a little Texas boogie woogie on it".

And tore into Tore Up. Whew!

[MeekOneGOP]

Your post makes it all worth it. Thanks so much ...

[RNBEE]

Chubby Checker is 61 years old.

[PJ-Comix]

Chubby Checker is 61 years old.

Maybe it was Fats Domino that I was thinking of.

[mafree]

Just saw this in the local fishwrap. I liked Ballard's music and he was a good writer. May he rest in peace.