Bessie Banks

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For the American actress and screenwriter, see Bessie Banks (actress).

Bessie Banks
Birth nameBessie White
Also known asToni Banks
Born (1938-02-08) February 8, 1938 (age 86)
Volt

Bessie Banks (born February 8, 1938)

Go Now," successfully covered in the same year by UK band the Moody Blues
.

Life and career

She was born Bessie White in

Four Fellows.[3] In 1959, she and Larry recorded as members of the Companions, releasing a single "Why Oh Why Baby" on the Federal label.[2]

Taking back the name Bessie Banks, she recorded as a solo singer in the first half of the 1960s, starting with "Do It Now" in 1963 on the Spokane Records label. The single reached #40 on the

Mike Stoller produced the recording, which first appeared on their Tiger Records label (catalog number TI-102). It was slated for issue on the Blue Cat label (as BC-106), the R&B/soul imprint of Red Bird. The song was arranged by Gary Sherman, with Cissy Houston and Dee Dee Warwick as of the backing singers.[2]

Bessie Banks later commented:

"'I remember 1963 Kennedy was assassinated; it was announced over the radio. At the time, I was rehearsing in the office of Leiber and Stoller. We called it a day. Everyone was in tears. "Come back next week and we will be ready to record 'Go Now'"; and we did so. I was happy and excited that maybe this time I’ll make it. 'Go Now' was released and right away it was chosen Pick Hit of the Week on W.I.N.S. Radio. That means your record is played for seven days. Four days went by, I was so thrilled. On day five, when I heard the first line, I thought it was me, but all of a sudden, I realized it wasn’t. At the end of the song it was announced, "the Moody Blues singing 'Go Now'". I was too out-done. This was the time of the English Invasion and the end of Bessie Banks’ career, so I thought. America's DJs had stopped promoting American artists."[2]

Banks' single was released in the US in January 1964. The Moody Blues' version was released in November (in the UK), and in the United States the following January.

She returned to the studio in early 1967, recording the single "I Can't Make It (Without You Baby)" for the

Volt
label, including "Try to Leave Me if You Can (I Bet You Can't Do It)" and "(Don't You Worry Baby) The Best Is Yet to Come".

Larry Banks also recorded under his own name, and both recorded with and produced his second wife Joan, who recorded as

Ace Records in 2007.[6] At that time, it was reported that Bessie Banks "continues to sing though she confines herself to gospel music now."[2]

References

  1. ^ Darcy (February 9, 2011). "Feel It: A hen's tooth?". Feel It. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Larry and Jaibi". Soundclick.com. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  3. ^ Eder, Bruce. "Biography: Bessie Banks". AllMusic. Retrieved July 6, 2010.
  4. ^ "Bessie Banks". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 13, 2020.
  5. ISBN 9780634099786
    .
  6. ^ "Jaibi". Discogs.com. Retrieved April 14, 2016.

External links

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