Hank Ballard (born John Henry Kendricks) (November 18, 1927 - March 2, 2003) was an rhythm and blues singer, the lead vocalist of Hank Ballard and The Midnighters and one of the first proto-rock 'n' roll artists to emerge in the early 1950s. He played an integral part in the development of rock music, releasing the hit singles "Work With Me, Annie" and "Annie Had a Baby" with his Midnighters. He later wrote and recorded "The Twist", which was notably covered by Chubby Checker
Born John Henry Kendricks in Bessemer, Alabama, Ballard grew up in Detroit, Michigan with relatives, where he began singing in church and later aspired to a career in music. In 1951, Ballard formed a doo wop group. He was discovered by Johnny Otis, of the Little Esther Revue, and was signed to sing with a group called The Royals, along with Henry Booth, Charles Sutton, Sonny Woods and Alonzo Tucker. The Royals had already signed to Federal Records in Cincinnati when Ballard joined.
The group then changed its name to The Midnighters to avoid confusion with The "5" Royales. Sutton was replaced by Lawson Smith, while Thrasher was replaced by Sonny Woods. Tucker was replaced first by Arthur Porter and then by Cal Green. The group soon released "Get It" (1953), an R&B song with sexually oriented lyrics, which many radio stations refused to play.
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 and also sold well in mainstream markets, along with the answer song "Annie Had a Baby".
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 are an illustration of why white radio stations tended to avoid playing songs by black R&B performers. For example, in the song "Open Up the Back Door", he sings a line "I want to make a little cream".
They had four more R&B chart hits in 1954-55. The Midnighters continued releasing singles and albums, and also changed their name to "Hank Ballard and The Midnighters". Their label also changed to King. They had no hits in 1956-58. Then between 1959 and 1961 they had several more both on the R&B and Pop charts, including "Let's Go, Let's Go, Let's Go" and the Grammy-nominated "Finger Popping Time, which hit #6 and #7, respectively, on the Billboard Pop Top 10 .
In 1959 Ballard's song "The Twist" was released as the B-side of "Teardrops on Your Letter". A year later Chubby Checker's cover version of the song went to #1 on the pop charts. (It would return to the top of the charts in 1962.) Though this brought about renewed interest in Ballard and The Midnighters for a time, this lasted for only a few years, and the group dissolved in 1965. Ballard tried to launch a solo career, working with James Brown. Though he later tried to re-form The Midnighters, the new lineups never achieved much success.
In 1990 Ballard was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
On March 2, 2003, he died of throat cancer in his Los Angeles home, aged 76.
The Twist
The Midnighters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Come on baby let's do the twist
Take me by my little hand and go like this
Ee-oh twist baby baby twist
Oooh-yeah just like this
Come on little miss and do the twist
My daddy is sleepin' and mama ain't around
We're gonna twisty twisty twisty
'Til we turn the house down
Come on and twist yeah baby twist
Oooh-yeah just like this
Come on little miss and do the twist
Yeah you should see my little Sis
You should see my my little Sis
She really knows how to rock
She knows how to twist
Ee-oh twist baby baby twist
Oooh-yeah just like this
Come on little miss and do the twist
Yeah, that's alright
Yeah twist all night
Twist
The Midnighters's "The Twist" is a classic rock and roll song about dancing and having a good time. The lyrics invite the listener to do the twist, a dance that was popular in the 1960s. The song begins with the singer urging their partner to join them in doing the twist. They take each other's hands and demonstrate the dance moves while encouraging their partner to follow along.
The second verse reveals that the singer's parents are not home, which gives them the freedom to dance and have fun without any restrictions. They promise to twist until they turn the house down, fully embracing the rebellious spirit of rock and roll. In the third verse, the singer boasts about their little sister's dancing abilities, implying that music and dancing run in the family.
Overall, the song is a celebration of youth, freedom, and the joy of dancing. It captures the essence of the rock and roll era, which was characterized by energetic music, wild dance moves, and a sense of rebellion against the status quo.
Line by Line Meaning
Come on baby let's do the twist
Inviting someone to dance the twist together.
Take me by my little hand and go like this
Asking to be led in the dance by holding hands.
Ee-oh twist baby baby twist
The sound of enthusiasm for the dance.
Oooh-yeah just like this
Expressing satisfaction with the current dance moves.
Come on little miss and do the twist
Inviting a female partner to join in the dance.
Yeah daddy is sleepin' and mama ain't around
Indicating an opportunity to dance without parental supervision.
We're gonna twisty twisty twisty
Planning to dance the twist energetically.
Til we turn the house down
Dancing so hard that it causes the house to shake.
Yeah you should see my little Sis
Praising a family member's dance skills.
She really knows how to rock
Complimenting the sister's ability to dance well.
Yeah that's alright
Showing approval for the party atmosphere.
Yeah twist all night
Suggesting dancing the twist for an extended period of time.
Twist
A repeated exhortation to continue dancing the twist.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Hank Ballard
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@RichZFishes
Clark asked the Midnighters to perform the Twist on Bandstand. They had a scheduling conflict, and declined. Clark had previously had Ernest, "Chubby" Evans, who had a unique talent imitating other singers, do a novelty record for him, that was him imitating a bunch of other artists singing Mary Had a Little Lamb. It was released by Cameo/Parkway as "The Class".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKLhfnyvmVY
It was Clark's wife who named Evans "Checker" as a play on his nickname (Chubby) and Fats Domino. He hired the Dreamlovers to sing background, and had them do a test run of the Twist at a southern NJ club before putting him on Bandstand. Bandstand pushed the Checker version of the Twist hard, having him on the show numerous times in the first few months of it's release. Miffed at being turned down, Clark wanted to bury the Ballard's version.
And Ballard didn't actually write it either. IT was written by a gospel group (Sensational Nightingales) who couldn't have their name associated with it. They sent it to Vee Jay to see if they could find a home for it. Later, they offered it to the Midnighters. Here's what Marv Goldberg wrote about that...
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Finally, in Miami, they found the perfect vehicle: the Midnighters. According to guitarist Cal Green, Hank Ballard liked it and the group made a demo which they sent off to, coincidentally, Vee-Jay (along with a tune called "I'll Pray For You"). Hank was sure that their King/Federal contract was about to expire and decided to give the Chicago company a try. Vee-Jay probably would have released it, but Syd Nathan informed the Brackens [owners of Vee-Jay] that he had picked up the Midnighters' option and they were still recording for him. Therefore, the original (and very different) recording of "The Twist" was kept hidden away until it appeared on a 1993 Vee-Jay CD.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plZSvK_Zz3A
FWIW, the demo was recorded without the Sax break in the bridge. That was dubbed in for the album.
Since gospel group didn't want to be identified with the risqué (by '50s standards) material, they apparently had no issue with Ballard claiming writer's credit.
@jimm6386
I saw Hank at a small club in Minneapolis called the Cabooze. His band was thumping like a gang of congos, timing was impeccable - as witnessed by his version of The Twist. Listening to Chubby Checker’s version it is almost listless.
@ronaldlwhitaker3458
I have been to the Cabooze many times, and have seen James Brown, Sam and Dave, BB King, Albert King, Bobby Blue Bland, Hank Ballard and many others. That joint used to rock with serious talent! I feel yeah!
@42NORRIS
@!jimm6496 "The Twist" is an American pop song written and originally released in 1958 by Hank Ballard and the Midnighters as a B-side to "Teardrops on Your Letter". It was inspired by the twist dance craze.
@ujimajame4601
:: Hank Ballard wanted it to be the "a" side. It was the company's decision to bury it omn the "b" sound. Fortunately, Cameo/Parkway heard it and chose Chubby Checker, who did imitations on his first single, to redo it as an "A" side, it hit #1 twice and started a whole new dance craze!@@42NORRIS
@dra.leonorhuerta4423
WOOOWWWWW. Greetings from Mexico I love the rude voice and energy
@mikekentertainment8769
Small world. I played the Cabooze with Freddie King in 1974. It was a rockin’ club and the people were very enthusiastic. There’s a live recording of that gig somewhere out in internet land.
@MrBillbies
Saw Hank Ballard and the Midnighters once live and was astounded by a move they made. They were on the Auditorium's floor and I was pretty close and a little above them. They were all bald and would spin their bodies around in synch with their singing while revolving around the Mic at the same time. They must have made about 8 revolutions and I was sold right there!
@DouglasUrantia
The backing beat is off the charts.....love it.!!!!!!
@joseramone9802
Simply the best original tune by the original artist.
@cynthia6637
One of the best songs to dance to in 1959.. Yes Hank Ballard did write this song and did a great job on both songs on this record..The flip side was awesome..
Do The Twist was one of the best dances out there.. Then if you wanted too slow dance.. Flip the song over .. Awesome