The subject of Hank Ballard and The Midnighters and Georgia Gibbs, many interesting facts were arisen about the two famous groups during the time spent on the top of the charts in the 1950s. While "dance with me Henry" by Georgia Gibbs was inspired by "Work with Me Annie" By Hank Ballard and The Midnighters and considered the cover of the original, nevertheless, Gibbs interpretation has proven to be far more then that. In fact, some would consider it an endeavor to further develop the original song. .
The Midnighters began their career as the Royals as they were organized in late 1950 or early '51 by Henry Booth and Charles Sutton. The original band members were said to have also included Levi Stubbs who later moved on the Four Tops and Jackie Wilson. By 1952, when bandleader Johnny Otis discovered the group at the Paradise Theater in Detroit and recommended them to Federal Records producer Ralph Bass, the personnel comprised of lead singers Booth and Sutton, harmony vocalists Lawson Smith and Sonny Woods, and guitarist Alonzo Tucker. Booth led the Royals' first big hit, the Otis doo wop composition "Every Beat of My Heart", which was then made into a smash hit for Gladys Knight and the Pips. "The Royals' early style was smooth, owing much to Sonny Til and the Orioles". It changed radically when Hank Ballard, who'd grown up singing in church in Bessemer, Alabama, replaced Smith in 1953. Inspired by the Dominoes' Clyde McPhatter, the 16 year-old former Ford assembly line worker became lead singer, bringing to the group a hard gospel edge and a suitcase full of rhythm-charged, frequently raunchy songs, beginning with 1953's "Get It". One of the singles by Hank Ballard and the Midnighters, "Work with Me Annie" was recorded on the Syd Nathan's Federal label. But "Annie" took on a life of its own. A west coast deejay told his radio listeners that if they liked "Work with Me, Annie," they"d want the sequel, "Annie Had A Baby," a sarcastic joke which immediately caused orders to come in for the nonexistent record.
HISTORY OF ROCK AND ROLL For many years, people have been listening to rock and roll music, and not knowing where it originated from. Truthfully, it wasn't just a sudden thing. It came from the combination of various styles and cultures. Through years of development we now have a very define...
