MUSICIAN

Hank Ballard

1927 - 2003

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Hank Ballard (born John Henry Kendricks; November 18, 1927 – March 2, 2003) 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 covered a year later by Chubby Checker, this second version spreading the popularity of the dance. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990. Read more on Wikipedia

His biography is available in 18 different languages on Wikipedia. Hank Ballard is the 2,447th most popular musician (down from 2,166th in 2024), the 13,418th most popular biography from United States (down from 11,472nd in 2019) and the 1,004th most popular American Musician.

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Among MUSICIANS

Among musicians, Hank Ballard ranks 2,447 out of 3,175. Before him are Lisa Batiashvili, Creed Taylor, Guy Lombardo, Greg Howe, Hugh Dillon, and Ben Howard. After him are Yoann Lemoine, Simon Webbe, Chris Botti, DJ Shadow, Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal, and Muhal Richard Abrams.

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Contemporaries

Among people born in 1927, Hank Ballard ranks 475. Before him are John Dankworth, Boots Randolph, Sylvia Fedoruk, Cleo Laine, Ann Gillis, and Connie Kay. After him are Robert Bork, Nayantara Sahgal, Sada Thompson, Patsy Mink, Eddie Sachs, and Jim Fuchs. Among people deceased in 2003, Hank Ballard ranks 362. Before him are Gerald Emmett Carter, Dulce Chacón, Al Hirschfeld, Royce D. Applegate, Rachel Corrie, and Road Warrior Hawk. After him are Ellen Drew, Lynne Thigpen, David Kelly, Malcolm Williamson, Joseph Overton, and Johnny Paul Koroma.

Others Born in 1927

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In United States

Among people born in United States, Hank Ballard ranks 13,422 out of 20,380. Before him are Elisabeth Harnois (1979), Lionel Shriver (1957), Preston Foster (1900), Lee Greenwood (1942), Geoffrey A. Landis (1955), and Deidre Hall (1947). After him are Joseph Campanella (1924), Walt Kelly (1913), Sidney Drell (1926), Angela Kinsey (1971), Brenda Chapman (1962), and Cain Velasquez (1982).

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Among MUSICIANS In United States

Among musicians born in United States, Hank Ballard ranks 1,004. Before him are Ian MacKaye (1962), Alex Honnold (1985), Booker Ervin (1930), Synyster Gates (1981), Ronnie Vannucci Jr. (1976), and Greg Howe (1963). After him are Chris Botti (1962), DJ Shadow (1972), Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal (1969), Muhal Richard Abrams (1930), Steve Kuhn (1938), and Geri Allen (1957).

American born Musicians

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