Bessie Banks
Encyclopedia
Bessie Banks is an American soul
singer, best known for her original recording of the Moody Blues’ hit song "Go Now
".
, and later raised in Brooklyn
, New York
. By the mid-1950s, she began singing with a quartet called Three Guys and a Doll. While a member of the group, she met singer Larry Banks
; they married on stage at the Royal Theatre in Baltimore
around 1955. She performed and recorded as Toni Banks during the mid-'50s, including the 1957 single "You're Still in My Heart", on which she was backed by The Four Fellows
. In 1959 she and Larry recorded as members of The Companions, releasing a single "Why Oh Why Baby" on the Federal
label.
Taking back the name Bessie Banks, she recorded as a solo singer in the first half of the 1960s, starting with "Do It Now" in 1963 on the Spokane Records label. Although she and Larry Banks separated and later divorced, they continued to work together. In late 1963, Larry and Bessie decided to make a new push to establish her with a song that Larry had written specifically for the purpose of breaking her nationally: "Go Now." Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller produced the recording, which appeared on their Blue Cat
label, the R&B/soul imprint of Red Bird
. The song was arranged by Gary Sherman, with Cissy Houston
as one of the backing singers.
Bessie Banks later commented:
The success of The Moody Blues' cover version overshadowed her later career. She returned to the studio in early 1967, recording the single "I Can't Make It (Without You Baby)", for the Verve
label. In 1974, she recorded singles for the Volt label, including "Try To Leave Me If You Can (I Bet You Can't Do It)" and "(Don't You Worry Baby) The Best Is Yet To Come".
Larry Banks also recorded under his own name, and both recorded with and produced his second wife Joan, who recorded as Jaibi
. A compilation of recordings, including those by Bessie Banks, was issued as Larry Banks' Soul Family Album by Ace Records
in 2007. At that time it was reported that Bessie Banks "continues to sing though she confines herself to gospel music now."
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
singer, best known for her original recording of the Moody Blues’ hit song "Go Now
Go Now (song)
"Go Now" is a 1964 song composed by Larry Banks and Milton Bennett. It was first recorded by Bessie Banks, and most successfully by The Moody Blues.-Bessie Banks:The song was first recorded by Larry Banks' former wife, Bessie Banks...
".
Life and career
She was born Bessie White in North CarolinaNorth Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, and later raised in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. By the mid-1950s, she began singing with a quartet called Three Guys and a Doll. While a member of the group, she met singer Larry Banks
Larry Banks
Lawrence H. "Larry" Banks was an American R&B and soul singer, songwriter, and record producer.-Life and career:Banks was born in New York City and grew up in the Flatbush area of Brooklyn...
; they married on stage at the Royal Theatre in Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
around 1955. She performed and recorded as Toni Banks during the mid-'50s, including the 1957 single "You're Still in My Heart", on which she was backed by The Four Fellows
Larry Banks
Lawrence H. "Larry" Banks was an American R&B and soul singer, songwriter, and record producer.-Life and career:Banks was born in New York City and grew up in the Flatbush area of Brooklyn...
. In 1959 she and Larry recorded as members of The Companions, releasing a single "Why Oh Why Baby" on the Federal
Federal Records
Federal Records was an American record label founded in 1950 as a subsidiary of Syd Nathan's King Records and based in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was run by famed record producer Ralph Bass and was mainly devoted to Rhythm & Blues releases. But also hillbilly and rockabilly recordings were released,...
label.
Taking back the name Bessie Banks, she recorded as a solo singer in the first half of the 1960s, starting with "Do It Now" in 1963 on the Spokane Records label. Although she and Larry Banks separated and later divorced, they continued to work together. In late 1963, Larry and Bessie decided to make a new push to establish her with a song that Larry had written specifically for the purpose of breaking her nationally: "Go Now." Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller produced the recording, which appeared on their Blue Cat
Blue Cat Records
Blue Cat Records was the name of two unconnected record labels.Blue Cat Records ' was a subsidiary label of Red Bird Records. It had a hit in 1965 with "The Boy from New York City" by the Ad Libs....
label, the R&B/soul imprint of Red Bird
Red Bird Records
Red Bird Records was a record label started by American pop music songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller in 1964. Though often thought of as a "girl-group" label, female-led acts made up only 40% of the artist roster on Red Bird and its associated labels...
. The song was arranged by Gary Sherman, with Cissy Houston
Cissy Houston
Emily "Cissy" Houston is a Grammy Award–winning American soul and gospel singer. She led a very successful career as a backup singer for such artists as Elvis Presley, Mahalia Jackson, Wishbone Ash and Aretha Franklin, and is now primarily a solo artist...
as one of the backing singers.
Bessie Banks later commented:
"'I remember 1963 Kennedy was assassinated; it was announced over the radio. At the time, I was rehearsing in the office of Leiber and Stoller. We called it a day. Everyone was in tears. "Come back next week and we will be ready to record 'Go Now'"; and we did so. I was happy and excited that maybe this time I’ll make it. 'Go Now' was released and right away it was chosen Pick Hit of the Week on W.I.N.S. Radio. That means your record is played for seven days. Four days went by, I was so thrilled. On day five, when I heard the first line, I thought it was me, but all of a sudden, I realized it wasn’t. At the end of the song it was announced, "The Moody BluesThe Moody BluesThe Moody Blues are an English rock band. Among their innovations was a fusion with classical music, most notably in their 1967 album Days of Future Passed....
singing 'Go Now'". I was too out-done. This was the time of the English InvasionBritish InvasionThe British Invasion is a term used to describe the large number of rock and roll, beat, rock, and pop performers from the United Kingdom who became popular in the United States during the time period from 1964 through 1966.- Background :...
and the end of Bessie Banks’ career, so I thought. America's DJs had stopped promoting American artists."
The success of The Moody Blues' cover version overshadowed her later career. She returned to the studio in early 1967, recording the single "I Can't Make It (Without You Baby)", for the Verve
Verve Records
Verve Records is an American jazz record label now owned by Universal Music Group. It was founded by Norman Granz in 1956, absorbing the catalogues of his earlier labels, Clef Records and Norgran Records , and material which had been licensed to Mercury previously.-Jazz and folk origins:The Verve...
label. In 1974, she recorded singles for the Volt label, including "Try To Leave Me If You Can (I Bet You Can't Do It)" and "(Don't You Worry Baby) The Best Is Yet To Come".
Larry Banks also recorded under his own name, and both recorded with and produced his second wife Joan, who recorded as Jaibi
Jaibi
Jaibi was the stage name of the American soul singer Joan Banks .-Life and career:Born Joan Pulliam, and later known as Joan Bates after her marriage to her first husband Anthony Bates Sr., she first recorded with a group, the Pleasures, in 1964-65...
. A compilation of recordings, including those by Bessie Banks, was issued as Larry Banks' Soul Family Album by Ace Records
Ace Records (UK)
Ace Records Ltd. was started in 1978. Initially the company only gained permission from the label based in Mississippi to use the name in the UK, but eventually also acquired the rights to publish their recordings. When Chiswick's pop side was licensed to EMI in 1984, Ace switched to more licensing...
in 2007. At that time it was reported that Bessie Banks "continues to sing though she confines herself to gospel music now."