Hank Ballard

Hank Ballard
Ballard in 1954
Background information
Birth name	John Henry Kendricks
Born	(1927-11-18)November 18, 1927[1] Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Died	March 2, 2003(2003-03-02) (aged 75) Los Angeles, U.S.
Genres	Blues rock and roll R&B funk
Occupation(s)	Singer, songwriter
Years active	1951–2003
Labels	Federal, King, People
Formerly of	The Midnighters

Hank Ballard (born John Henry Kendricks; November 18, 1927 – March 2, 2003)^[1] was an American singer and songwriter, the lead vocalist of the Midnighters and one of the first rock and roll artists to emerge in the early 1950s. He played an integral part in the development of the genre, releasing the hit singles "Work with Me, Annie" and answer songs "Annie Had a Baby" and "Annie's Aunt Fannie" with his Midnighters. He later wrote and originally recorded (in 1959) "The Twist" which was notably covered a year later by Chubby Checker, this second version spreading the popularity of the dance.^[2] He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.