R.I.P. Ron Banks (The Dramatics)
The Dramatics originally formed in 1962 as the Dynamics. They changed their name by 1967, when they garnered their first minor hit single, “All Because of You.” However, the group did not break through until their 1971 single, “Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get,” which broke into the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #9.[1] Their first million selling disc “Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get” was awarded gold disc status by the R.I.A.A. in December 1971.
Their members at this time were Ron Banks , William “Wee Gee” Howard (deceased), Elbert Wilkins (deceased), Willie Ford, Larry Demps and keyboardist James Mack Brown (deceased).
Shortly after the success of their first album, Howard and Wilkins left the group. They were replaced by L.J. Reynolds and Leonard “Lenny” Mayes. Through the 1970s, the group appeared on Soul Train and continued to have hits, including the #1 R&B hit, “In the Rain”, “Toast to the Fool”, “Me and Mrs. Jones” (originally by Billy Paul), “I’m Going By The Stars In Your Eyes” and “Be My Girl.” In the meantime, Howard and Wilkins formed a Dramatics splinter group, and came up with a minor R&B hit, “No Rebate on Love.” To distinguish themselves from this group, the core group temporarily dubbed themselves ‘Ron Banks and The Dramatics’. Howard eventually returned to the group for two albums, Somewhere in Time: A Dramatic Reunion and Positive State Of Mind, before departing again.
The Dramatics also were guests on the Snoop Doggy Dogg song, “Doggy Dogg World”. The song appeared on Snoop’s 1993 debut album, Doggystyle.
The Dramatics singer Ron Banks died early Thursday morning, March 4, 2010. Banks was born on May 10, 1951, in Redford, Michigan. It is believed that Banks died of an apparent heart attack.
Podcast Summary
Wefunk Records longtime provocatuer, Mike Clip Payne brings his retro brand of Raw Funk/Brown and Blue Eyed Soul to your world….
Payne, a 29 year veteran of the Hall of Famed Parliament Funkadelic Entourage who has decided to DJ and share his Whirl of Soul with the Planet. Most of the Music he plays is the MOD of “The ” era for LIFE and ocassionally he’ll play an original song from his cast of Freinds, Signed and unsigned Artists as well as George Clinton’s new signings.
Both CLINTON and PAYNE take you on a musical trip with their rare grooves from a World Wide Funk Scene notorious for Blowin Minds!!!
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