Jammin
03-05-2010, 12:30 AM
Susan Whitall / The Detroit News
Ron Banks, 58, of The Dramatics, died of a heart attack Thursday at Detroit's Sinai Hospital. The Detroiter was a founding member of the group back in the '60s, as a teenager.
Proof that not all Detroit R&B groups ended up at Motown (or should have), after a few singles on small labels, the Dramatics signed with Stax/Volt Records out of Memphis and became known for their funky '70s sound on hits including "Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get" (1971), "In the Rain" (1972) and "Get Up and Get Down" (1972).
"It caught us by surprise," said fellow Dramatic, L.J. Reynolds of Detroit. He said the group has gigs to fulfill, and they will perform, including a concert Saturday at the Westbury Music Festival in New York.
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"We still have to go to New York tomorrow night," Reynolds said. "We have to go. The show must go on. If it was me I'd want them to go ahead and I'm sure he'd feel the same way. It'll be a long, silent ride there. But we'll take Ron's mike and put it up onstage, and let it stand there."
Reynolds was 18 when he met Banks and the Dramatics backstage at the Apollo Theater. "They were having problems with their lead singer," Reynolds remembers. "A year later, I got with the group. We ended up doing 38 Top 10 R&B singles."
"We had a great ride ... and the Dramatics will go on. This is a tragedy, but we have to be strong for Ron and his family," Reynolds said.
Banks is survived by six children and his wife, Sandy. Funeral arrangements are pending.
From The Detroit News: http://www.detnews.com/article/20100305/ENT04/3050322/1424/ENT04/Dramatics-co-founder-Ron-Banks-dies-of-heart-attack#ixzz0hHUVGWyQ
RIP :'(
Ron Banks, 58, of The Dramatics, died of a heart attack Thursday at Detroit's Sinai Hospital. The Detroiter was a founding member of the group back in the '60s, as a teenager.
Proof that not all Detroit R&B groups ended up at Motown (or should have), after a few singles on small labels, the Dramatics signed with Stax/Volt Records out of Memphis and became known for their funky '70s sound on hits including "Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get" (1971), "In the Rain" (1972) and "Get Up and Get Down" (1972).
"It caught us by surprise," said fellow Dramatic, L.J. Reynolds of Detroit. He said the group has gigs to fulfill, and they will perform, including a concert Saturday at the Westbury Music Festival in New York.
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"We still have to go to New York tomorrow night," Reynolds said. "We have to go. The show must go on. If it was me I'd want them to go ahead and I'm sure he'd feel the same way. It'll be a long, silent ride there. But we'll take Ron's mike and put it up onstage, and let it stand there."
Reynolds was 18 when he met Banks and the Dramatics backstage at the Apollo Theater. "They were having problems with their lead singer," Reynolds remembers. "A year later, I got with the group. We ended up doing 38 Top 10 R&B singles."
"We had a great ride ... and the Dramatics will go on. This is a tragedy, but we have to be strong for Ron and his family," Reynolds said.
Banks is survived by six children and his wife, Sandy. Funeral arrangements are pending.
From The Detroit News: http://www.detnews.com/article/20100305/ENT04/3050322/1424/ENT04/Dramatics-co-founder-Ron-Banks-dies-of-heart-attack#ixzz0hHUVGWyQ
RIP :'(