The Midnighters | |
|---|---|
 Hank Ballard and the Midnighters in concert, 1982 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | The Four Falcons, The Royals, Hank Ballard & the Midnighters |
| Origin | Detroit, Michigan, United States |
| Genres | |
| Labels | Federal, King, People |
| Past members | J.C. Billy Davis Alonzo Tucker Freddy Pride Hank Ballard Henry Booth Charles Sutton Lawson Smith Ardra “Sonny” Woods Norman Thrasher Arthur Porter Cal Green Walter Miller Frank Stanford Wesley Hargrove |
The Midnighters were an American vocal group from Detroit, Michigan. They were an influential group in the 1950s and early 1960s, with many R&B hit records. They were also notable for launching the career of lead singer Hank Ballard and the worldwide dance craze the twist. Between 1953 and 1962, the Midnighters had several hits on the U.S. pop and R&B charts. Their hits included the million-selling Billboard top 10 pop hits "Finger Poppin' Time" (for which they received a 1961 Grammy Award nomination),[1] and "Let's Go, Let's Go, Let's Go". The Midnighters also had 13 top 10 R&B hits, including three that reached number 1. Their top 10 R&B hits included "Work with Me, Annie", "It's Love Baby (24 Hours a Day)", "Annie Had a Baby", "The Hoochi Coochi Coo", "Teardrops on Your Letter", "Get It", "The Float" and "Nothing but Good". They received the Rhythm and Blues Foundation's prestigious Pioneer Award in 1992[2] and were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999.[3] The Midnighters are also noted for achieving a music industry milestone in 1960, by becoming the first group in history to place 3 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 at the same time. The group's lead singer, Hank Ballard, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990. The Midnighters as a group were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on April 14, 2012.[4]
- ^ "Hank Ballard". November 19, 2019.
- ^ "Hank Ballard and the Midnighters Profile – History of Hank Ballard and the Midnighters – Hank Ballard Songs, Biography, and Trivia". Oldies.about.com. Retrieved March 17, 2013.
- ^ "Hank Ballard & the Midnighters – Inductees – The Vocal Group Hall of Fame Foundation". Vocalgroup.org. Archived from the original on April 24, 2013. Retrieved March 17, 2013.
- ^ Andy Greene (February 9, 2012). "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Adds Six Backing Groups to the Class of 2012 | Music News". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 17, 2013.