Willie Banks

Willie Banks (May 11, 1929 – February 1, 1993), was an American gospel singer, songwriter, and originator of his backing band, The Messengers.

Banks started the Messengers in 1972 after he left The Jackson Southernaires. While with the Jackson Southernaires, Banks made his first big hit in 1964 on Peacock Records with the song "Too Late". His first song with The Messengers in 1972 was "Heaven Must Be A Beautiful Place", also on Peacock Records. A String of "Chittlin Circuit" hits was released on HSE Records. His first major hit was "Things I Can't Change" in 1974. Another hit came in 1975 with "God's Goodness". His super hit was "For The Wrong I've Done" for which he was nominated for a Grammy in 1980. Perhaps Banks' most memorable song, "God Is Still In Charge" came in 1982 off of an album of the same name. Banks stayed with HSE Records until they changed their name to Black Label. Three projects were released on this label. Willie Banks moved over to Malaco Records in the mid-1980s. He penned "Look at the Blessings" in 1986 with Malaco. He would release thirteen albums, five of them placing on the Billboard magazine Top Gospel Albums chart: For The Wrong I Done (1978), Mother Why (1980), "Masterpiece" (1989), The Legend Lives On (1992) and 1993's The Best of Willie Banks, which was released posthumously.

Early life Banks was born on May 11, 1929, in Raymond, Mississippi, and his mother started him singing at five years. He help formed The Jackson Southernaires, a group to which he would come an go over a period of years, he did a brief few years with madam Edna G Cooke. In 1972 after leaving The Southernaires he would form his own group The Messengers. The 1992 album, The Legend Lives On, placed on that particular chart at No. 19, while the 1993 album, Best of Willie Banks, placed at No. 40.

Personal life Banks was married to Deliana Williams, sister of Huey and Frank Williams of The Jackson Southernaires and Melvin, Leonard and Doug Williams of The Williams Brothers. At the time of his death, he was married to Patricia Banks.

Banks was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 1990 and given six months. He died on February 1, 1993; his death was attributed to heart failure. He was buried at Garden Memorial cemetery in Jackson (Hinds County) MS.

Discography

Too Late (1964) Heaven Must Be A Beautiful Place (1973) The Things I Can't Change (1974) God's Goodness (1975) God Will Take Care Of His Own (1976) For The Wrong I've Done (1978) Show Me The Way (1979) Mother Why? (1980) God Is Still in Charge (1982) In The Name of Jesus (1983) The House of Prayer (1985) Look at the Blessings (1988) Masterpiece (1989) Willie Banks and the Messengers in Concert (1991) The Legend Lives On (1992) The Best of Willie Banks (1994)