Born John Henry Kendricks in Detroit, Michigan, Ballard along with his brother, Dove Ballard, grew up and attended school in Bessemer, Alabama after the death of their father. He lived with his paternal aunt and her husband, and began singing in church. His major vocal inspiration during his formative years was the "Singing Cowboy", Gene Autry, and in particular, his signature song, "Back in the Saddle Again". Ballard returned to Detroit in his teens and later worked on the assembly line for Ford.
In 1953, Ballard joined doo-wop group The Royals, which had previously been discovered by Johnny Otis and signed to Federal Records, (a division of King Records), in Cincinnati. Ballard joined Henry Booth, Charles Sutton, Sonny Woods and Alonzo Tucker in the group, replacing previous singer Lawson Smith.
The Royals released "Get It" (1953), an R&B song with possibly sexually oriented lyrics, which some radio stations refused to play, although it still made it to number 6 on the Billboard R&B chart.
The group then changed its name to The Midnighters to avoid confusion with The "5" Royales. In 1954, Ballard wrote a song called "Work with Me, Annie" that was drawn from "Get It". It became The Midnighters' first major R&B hit, spending seven weeks at number 1 on the R&B charts and also selling well in mainstream markets, along with the answer songs "Annie Had a Baby" and "Annie's Aunt Fannie"; all were banned by the FCC from radio air play. Their third major hit was "Sexy Ways", a song that cemented the band's reputation as one of the most risqué groups of the time.
They had four other R&B chart hits in 1954–55, but no others until 1959, by which time the group was billed as "Hank Ballard and The Midnighters" with their label changed from Federal to King, the parent label. Between 1959 and 1961 they had several more both on the R&B and Pop charts, starting with "Teardrops on Your Letter", a number 4 R&B hit in 1960 that had as its B-side the Ballard-written song "The Twist". A few months later, Chubby Checker's cover version of the song went to number 1 on the pop charts. It would return to the top of the charts again in 1962–the only song in the rock'n'roll era to reach number 1 in two different years.
Ballard & the Midnighters had several other hit singles through 1961, including the Grammy-nominated "Finger Poppin' Time" and "Let's Go, Let's Go, Let's Go" which hit number 7 and number 6, respectively, on the Billboard pop charts. They did not reach the charts again after 1962 and dissolved in 1965.
After the Midnighters disbanded, Ballard launched a solo career. His 1968 single, "How You Gonna Get Respect (When You Haven't Cut Your Process Yet)", was his biggest post-Midnighters hit, peaking at number 15 on the R&B chart. James Brown produced Ballard's 1969 album You Can't Keep a Good Man Down. A 1972 single, "From the Love Side", credited to Hank Ballard and the Midnight Lighters, went to number 43 on the R&B chart. Ballard also appeared on Brown's 1972 album Get on the Good Foot, in a track ("Recitation By Hank Ballard") that features Ballard describing Brown and the album.
During the 1960s, Ballard's cousin, Florence Ballard, was a member of the Detroit girl group The Supremes.
In the mid-1980s, Ballard re-formed The Midnighters and the group performed till 2002.
In 1990, Ballard was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; the other Midnighters were inducted in 2012.
On March 2, 2003, he died at age 66 of throat cancer in his Los Angeles home. He was buried at Greenwood Cemetery in Atlanta, Georgia.
Ballard was the great uncle of NFL player Christian Ballard.
Sexy Ways
Hank Ballard & The Midnighters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shake baby shake baby shake till your mama and your papa come home
Shake baby shake I just love your sexy ways
Well upside down and all around baby don't be late let's bop the town
Come on baby shake baby come here baby come on baby
Come on baby I love your sexy ways now
[ piano - guitar ]
So shake baby shake shake baby shake shake baby shake I love your sexy ways
Come on now...
The lyrics to Hank Ballard And The Midnighters's song "Sexy Ways" are about enjoying the seductive and alluring nature of their partner. The chorus of "shake baby shake" is a reference to physical movement and gyrations, which is often associated with dancing and sexual activity. The singer seems to be delighting in the way that their partner moves and the effect that it has on them.
The lyrics also suggest a sense of urgency and excitement, with lines like "Shake baby shake till the meat rolls off your bones" and "Upside down and all around baby don't be late let's bop the town." The fast-paced beat and lively melody of the song enhance this feeling of energy and enthusiasm. Overall, the lyrics celebrate the joy and exuberance of physical intimacy.
Line by Line Meaning
I said a shake baby shake baby shake till the meat rolls off your bones
I want you to dance so hard that you feel it in your whole body.
Shake baby shake baby shake till your mama and your papa come home
Keep dancing all night long, until even your parents have nothing left to say.
Shake baby shake I just love your sexy ways
I am captivated by the way you move and I find it incredibly attractive.
Well upside down and all around baby don't be late let's bop the town
Let's dance without any inhibition and take over the whole city.
Come on baby shake baby come here baby come on baby
I want you to come closer and keep dancing with me.
Come on baby I love your sexy ways now
I am fully aware of how alluring you are and I can't get enough of it.
[ piano - guitar ]
Instrumental break.
Well grandpa he's too old to go he got a shake it just a little to the rock'n roll
Even grandpa knows how to groove a little bit to this kind of music.
So shake baby shake shake baby shake shake baby shake I love your sexy ways
I want you to keep moving your body and I find it very irresistible.
Come on now...
Let's keep the music going and dance all night long.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HANK BALLARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jimmy Calhoun
My eldest aunt, now in her 70's, told me she clearly remembers Hank Ballard and The Midnighters from her teenage years. Probably the most hide-the-record-under-your-mattress artist at the time, more so even than Chuck Berry or Little Richard.
stevenfd123
Hank Ballard did some great stuff. Seems to me he isn't remembered enough or get the accolades he deserves.
Chad Quick
I agree 100%. It's so sad that he's all but forgotten. This is real R&B music here!
Ginger Williams
my parents wouldn't let me keep this record. I hid it and played it at my friend's house. always loved Hank Ballard/Midnighters! ginger w., class of '58
Steve
hahaha....
Elaine Miller
@Steve This was a DIRTY song in Baltimore when I was a teen. Brave teens did the Dirty Boogie to the song. Memories!
Steve
@Elaine Miller Interesting. Thank you.
Thomas Smith
Pioneer RocknRol
Without this there would be no 60s rock and roll there would be no 70's rock and roll and so forth
People like this were trail Blazers
It's a jam ! ! ! !
Míster Funke
@Thomas Smith Rock n' Roll Is The White name for Rhythm and Blues , like Dave Barrholomew says.
Wabana66
Spread the love for Hank Ballard!!