By Karyl (207.69.121.60) on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 06:55 am:

What a sad way to start a new week, the legendary Hank Ballard passed away yesterday. Apparently who was suffering from throat cancer.

R.I.P. Hank!

By David Meikle (213.122.43.195) on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 07:07 am:

Another great Detroiter passes.
http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/O/OBIT_BALLARD?SITE=MIDTN&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Hank Ballard aka John H. Kendricks R.I.P.

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.33) on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 10:07 am:

Yet another fine artist leaves us once again.
R.I.P.Hank Ballard.
mel.

By Doo Wop Doll (205.188.209.38) on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 10:35 am:

I play at least one song a week on my show by Hank Ballard. So sorry to hear that he passed away. I still have his legacy to enjoy.
The Doo Wop Doll

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 11:35 am:

RIP HANK BALLARD
I do believe I taped him on a PBS show.

By HW (12.110.192.128) on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 11:41 am:

aw sh%$

one of my faves

By stephanie (64.63.221.173) on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 12:28 pm:

I was so mad when I woke up this morning and saw that Hank had passed away!! Thank God they put him in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Chubby Checker owes his career to this man..RIP
Stephanie

By Fury13 (209.69.165.10) on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 12:31 pm:

This is very sad news. I have always been a huge Hank Ballard & the Midnighters fan.

By Randy Russi (169.139.180.100) on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 02:09 pm:

I once read that he and Florence Ballard were
cousins. Anyone know for sure?

By Dick Gamble (216.93.11.92) on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 02:49 pm:

This is very sad news indeed.Hank Ballard had a very big influence on the music I grew to love.

Hank, you express my feeling now with a song you recorded long ago. "I'm Gonna Miss You"

Dick

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 04:19 pm:

Chubby Checker should forever kiss the ground this man walked on...
Have a thrill up in Heaven's hills, Hank. We'll miss you.
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Ritchie (62.254.0.10) on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 04:24 pm:

Amen to all of that. He is irreplacable.

By Eli (151.197.39.147) on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 04:36 pm:

Rip hank...Lets go.. lets go.. lets go.. to a higher place!!!!

By Lynn Bruce (65.60.202.214) on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 04:47 pm:

Annie had a Baby- Work With Me Annie-Sexy Ways-Henrys got flat feet, At every party I went to as a teen-ager in the late 50s,if these songs were not in the rotation then the party was a dud.

We all danced to them,sang along to them.

When I started playing drums,I practised to them.

When I started playing in bands, I played drums and sang all the above songs.

When any singer sat in and wanted to do one of his songs,I knew the arrangement.

Hank (Mr.Ballard) I'm going to miss you more than than you can possibly imagine.

Have a nice trip to the other side.
God Bless you,Lynn

By Fury13 (12.2.196.17) on Monday, March 03, 2003 - 04:53 pm:

"It's Love Baby (24 Hours A Day)"
"Teardrops On Your Letter"
"Get It"
"The Switch-A-Roo"

All classics...

By Mark Speck (65.56.57.131) on Tuesday, March 04, 2003 - 12:16 am:

One hell of a talent...I think James Brown also cited him as an influence.

RIP Hank...you WILL be missed...

Best,

Mark

By Nikki (24.46.200.124) on Tuesday, March 04, 2003 - 12:31 am:

The legendary Hank Ballard now joins the ever-so-largely growing choir in R&B heaven. We also lost William "Sonny" Forrest of the Fantastics recently. They are now together with so many other of our beloved legends in heaven's harmony.

R.I.P. Hank Ballard & William Sonny Forrest.

Nikki

By Gary Rosen (12.234.25.217) on Tuesday, March 04, 2003 - 02:01 am:

RIP, Hank. The man was a legend and a true pioneer in R&B/rock music. Most important of all, he made great records that sound as good today as they did when he made them nearly 50 years ago (God, is it that long?)!

By BassLand (63.207.60.135) on Tuesday, March 04, 2003 - 02:47 am:

Hi SD,

I worked with Hank Ballard and recorded a live album in Europe with him. I am saddened to hear of his passing

BassLand

By R&B (138.238.41.128) on Tuesday, March 04, 2003 - 08:41 am:

HANK BALLARD GONE?..AS LONG AS R&B OR SOUL MUSIC IS DISCUSSED OR PLAYED ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD THE NAME HANK BALLARD WILL ALWAYS BE THERE WITH THE REST OF THE IMMORTALS.R.I.P.

By David Meikle (213.122.204.206) on Tuesday, March 04, 2003 - 11:08 am:

More excellence from Sue at Detroit News
http://www.detnews.com/2003/entertainment/0303/04/b01-98895.htm

By Chancellor of Soul (66.207.40.18) on Tuesday, March 04, 2003 - 11:26 am:

This is indeed sad sad news. I wrote a story on
the Twist last year and it's history that was
created by Hank Ballard. Well Hank, you'll be
finger poppin into soul heaven right along with
the greats ! Thanks for the memories, Hank !

Peace be unto you,
Mike Boone
(Chancellor of Soul)

By Jim G (12.47.224.13) on Tuesday, March 04, 2003 - 12:16 pm:

Hey Sue, I really liked your appreciation.
Lot of good information in it. It's a keeper for sure.
And quotes from Norman no less! Another pioneer seldom heard from, never quoted.
Todd Rhodes' band backed them up on some King recs.

By Fury13 (12.2.196.17) on Tuesday, March 04, 2003 - 12:22 pm:

Great article, Sue. Hank Ballard was a giant of Detroit R&B, and now more people know that.

By Common (209.2.55.169) on Tuesday, March 04, 2003 - 12:33 pm:

R.I.P. Hank Ballard. Condolescenes to his family & friends.

Peace!

By TonyRussi (68.18.48.42) on Tuesday, March 04, 2003 - 12:43 pm:

Hank Ballard is a CLASSIC R&B,Rock'n'Roll ICON.I loved his work with James Brown..."How You Gonna Get Respect(When You Haven't Cut Your Process Yet)";"Which Way Should I Go" "Blackinized" & "From The Love Side". Needless to say Hank wrote the biggest selling rock 45 "The Twist" which went to number one twice(1960 & 1962) and I'm sure he respected the fact that Chubby Checker added so much to the success of the TWIST.

By Vonnie (67.40.203.32) on Tuesday, March 04, 2003 - 12:49 pm:

R.I.P. TO a great artist whose songs will always be part of our lives.

Vonnie

By Vandelron (152.163.188.68) on Tuesday, March 04, 2003 - 08:58 pm:

From what I read he never begrudged Chubby his career and kept his publishing rights--pretty smart for that era. David Hinckley of NY Daily News wrote he was Flo Ballard's cousin--I never knew that.

By Soul Sister (65.43.153.219) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 10:40 pm:

God Bless Hank I remember when he came to see Sammy"Baby"Ambrose preform at the Wagon Wheel on 45th. street in N.Y.C. We had a big party at Sammy's place and Hank was a fast worker, he wound up on the floor in the ajacent room making it with some chick from the Bronx! It's funny how some memories stick in your mind. Those were great, fun times "Back in the day", always something happening. Well thats my only rememberence of Hank other than he was a talented artist.

By acooolcat (210.200.105.243) on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 10:52 pm:

This is sad news. I was just listening to some of his songs this week - he seemed ahead of his time. I remember Joe Hunter telling me that he was in a hotel with Hank, and Berry Gordy knocked on the door, wanting Joe to introduce him to Hank so he could hawk some of his songs, but Hank told him to .....
Thet's a great article Sue.
Graham

By David Meikle (213.122.63.254) on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 05:31 am:

Hi Soul Sister

Thanks for mentioning Sam Ambrose.

His 45's on Musicor are wonderful.

"Welcome to Dreamsville" and SoulfulDetroit!

David

By Soul Sister (65.43.153.219) on Thursday, April 17, 2003 - 08:40 pm:

David Meikle; My heart almost stopped when you mentioned Sammy, we were very tight from mid to late 60s in N.Y. betore he went back to Miami and fell to tragic misfortune...I guess I was as close to him as anyone during his N.Y. period, it saddens me Sammy didn't get the break or recognition he should have. His recordings are nothing copared to his LIVE performances...WHEEW!!! I thing he would of had tremendous success today had he not passed. It pains me in my heart to think of it. Did you know him too David?