By Keith Herschell - London (213.122.147.55) on Monday, April 07, 2003 - 05:00 am:

I have just discovered from the Southern Soul site that Homer Banks has died in hospital in Memphis. Latterly he was probably better known as a writer with Betty Crutcher and others, but I was playing a tape in the car this morning, and his '60 minutes of your love' came on. What a joyeous piece of music that is. We have now lost two great artists in one week. I would reiterate what others have said in the past ; whenever we get the chance show these wonderful people that have enriched our lives so much how special they are.

By LG Nilsson (212.247.9.242) on Monday, April 07, 2003 - 05:45 am:

The first song I heard by Homer Banks was "A Lot Of Love". It was issued on the Stateside label in parts of Europe. I fell in love with that record at once. It's very sad to hear another soul voice is silenced. Here's what I know about his own recordings.

Sweetie pie / Lady of stone - Genie 101 * 1965

A lot of love / Fighting to win - Minit 32000 * 1966

60 minutes of your love / Do you know what - Minit 32008 * 1966

Lady of stone / Hooked by love - Minit 32020 * 1967

Round the clock lover man / Foolish hearts break fast - Minit 32036 * 1968

(Who you gonna run to) me or your mama / I know you know I know I know - Minit 32056 * 1968

and with Carl Hampton on Warner:

Caught in the act / Make due with whatcha got - WB 8177 * 1976

Wonderful / Its got to be this way WB 8199 * 1977

I'm gonna have to tell her / We're movin' on WB 8344 * 1977

There was also an album on Warner....

He was also a writer at STAX in Memphis. He was a third of the legendary We Three writing team with Betty Cruthcer and Raymond Jackson Jr. Among the many songs he wrote are "Who's making love", "Take care of your homework", "I could never be president" for Johnnie Taylor, "Ain't that loving you (for more reasons than one)for Johnnie Taylor and Luther Ingram... and lots of others, mostly deep soul cuts.

Rest In Peace

Lars

By 1wicked (24.126.64.120) on Monday, April 07, 2003 - 08:20 am:

And...isn't he the husband of Sister Rose of Sly & The Family Stone ?

By David Meikle (213.122.38.188) on Monday, April 07, 2003 - 08:39 am:

Nice tribute Lars.

I love "Fighting to win" and all his uptempo material.

Homer Banks R.I.P.

David

By SisDetroit (68.42.209.170) on Monday, April 07, 2003 - 10:25 am:

Keith - When hugging the Funk Brothers, I said "I love you."

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.77) on Monday, April 07, 2003 - 02:05 pm:

R.I.P. Homer Banks
and thanks for the music.
Mel.

By LG Nilsson (213.89.29.157) on Monday, April 07, 2003 - 02:08 pm:

Hi there!

I just came home and looked at my Homer Banks singles and found out that "A Lot Of Love" was released on Liberty and not Stateside in the UK. But it is the same EMI design.



Here is one of his WB singles from the album: "Passport To Ecstasy".



I also happened to find this single next to Homer Banks'. Homer is one of the writers! I have not noticed that before. Were they related in any way?



One thing is strange about Homer Banks. He has not recorded one song as an artist at Stax during all years he was with the company!

Lars

By Sly fan (64.169.107.6) on Monday, April 07, 2003 - 02:48 pm:

The Great Homer Banks!! I am very sad to hear the news of such a great man and writer who helped to keep the sounds of the south burning up the charts for many years...May his soul rest..

Much love and condolences to his family..He will be greatly missed..

By Sly fan (64.169.107.6) on Monday, April 07, 2003 - 02:51 pm:

1wicked: No that was not Rose's husband. Her husband was a gentlemen by the name of Bubba "Hamp" Banks who was Sly's mentor and "assistant".

By Michael/Cleoharvey (160.79.83.208) on Monday, April 07, 2003 - 03:02 pm:

Sorry to hear about Mr. Banks. We seem to be losing a lot of talented people in the past year. I believe there is a song that Tom Jones covered at one time called Ain't that A Lotta Love (great record). Is that the same song as A Lotta Love?

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.42) on Monday, April 07, 2003 - 03:18 pm:

Lars,

Apparently the reason that Homer never recorded for Stax was that he had a slight lisp and Jim
Stewart decided that a singer with a specch defect
, no matter how minor, would never get anywhere.

Stax's loss - Minit's gain.

Michael - I haven't heard the Tom Jones track but it's probably the same song - "A Lot Of Love" was
also done in fine style by Taj Mahal. The riff
was "borrowed" by the Spencer Davis Group to form
the basis of their "Gimme Some Lovin'" hit.

Aother sad loss - " A Lot of Love" was one of the earliest singles I bought. He was a superb writer
with dozens of great songs to his credit.

Sly fan - Bubba Banks' Sly's "assistant" - a very
diplomatic way to put it :-)

Davie

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.42) on Monday, April 07, 2003 - 03:22 pm:

Lars,

Homer and Darrell related ? - I doubt it. Homer
was born in Memphis, Darrell's birthplace I'm
not sure of - one of the nothern states I think.

By Scratcher (65.132.77.77) on Monday, April 07, 2003 - 03:28 pm:

Darrell Banks is from Buffalo.

Homer Banks, in my opinion, is the greatest southern soul songwriter ever. His work with Randy Brown is legendary. And he has written too many southern soul classics to name. He was a so so singer but a great songwriter. Every word Banks put in a song lyric was carefully measured for maximum impact. At Stax he usually wrote with a group of writers, outside of Stax he did his best work with either Carl Hampton or Chuck Brooks.

By T.L. Harris (64.152.232.17) on Tuesday, April 08, 2003 - 02:36 am:

I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Homer Banks. Mr. Banks was indeed a true legend. Mr. Banks has brought many of people of pleasure through the years, and indeed we hate to lose another legend after the passing of Edwin Starr. I have enjoyed Mr. Banks writing skills, most noted the songs that he helped write for the late great Johnnie Taylor. Rest In Peace.

T.L. Harris