Darrell Banks
Darrell Banks (born Darrell Eubanks, 1938, Mansfield, Ohio - died Detroit, Michigan, March 1970) was an American soul singer.
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" (which, curiously, is legally named "Baby Walk Right in"), written by Donnie Elbert.[1] 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 #2 R&B and #27 on the Billboard Hot 100.[2] A second single, "Somebody (Somewhere) Needs You", hit #34 R&B and #55 pop later that year.[2] 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. Atco also released a full-length 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 full-length of his in 1969 and two more noncharting singles. They would be Banks's last recordings; in March of 1970, Banks was shot and killed by policeman Aaron Bullock after Banks intervened in his affair with Banks's girlfriend, Marjorie Bozeman.[1]
Discography
- Darrell Banks Is Here! (Atco Records, 1967)
- Darrell Is Here to Stay (Stax Records, 1969)
- The Lost Soul (compilation, 1997)
References
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