Dramatic Experience (Volt Records 1973), The The Dramatics were inducted into National Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame in 2013. The Dramatics (formerly The Dynamics) are an American soul music vocal group, formed in Detroit, Michigan, in 1964. Due to a misprint, Wingate changed the name of the group from The Dynamics to The Dramatics in 1966 for the group's second release, "Inky Dinky Wang Dang Doo". My Girl' (R&B number 3, 1976) and 'Shake It Well' (R&B number 4, afterwards L.J. This account has been disabled. A year after founding, the other members joining were baritone Elbert Wilkins, born May 1, 1947; bass/baritone Larry Demps, born February 23, 1949, tenor Lenny Mayes, born April 5, 1952, and tenor William Franklin Howard, born on July 13, 1950. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. Reynolds had also returned, and still performs with the group up to the present. Your donation is fully tax-deductible. WebWilliam Howard later rejoined the original group for the albums 'Somewhere in Time: A Dramatic Reunion' in 1986, and 'Positive State Of Mind' in 1989. In 1982, the group moved to Capitol Records and made their first album without Don Davis, with Banks acting as producer. LOS ANGELES (Billboard) Singer Ron Banks, a founding member of R&B group the Dramatics, died Thursday (March 4) at his Detroit home of a reported heart attack. In 2006, the Dramatics had a street named after them in Detroits Woodbridge Estates area. Reynolds left to go solo in 1981 and Larry Demps decided to go into teaching and spend more time with his family, after having joined the group's original line-up in 1964 with Banks. In 1989 they were on the Volt Records label where they released the album, Positive State of Mind. They consisted of Rob Davis, Ron Banks, Larry Reed, Robert Ellington, Larry Squirrel Demps and Elbert Wilkins. Whatcha 2023 COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED WBSS MEDIA LTD, https://www.discogs.com/artist/448325-William-Howard. "Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get" was awarded gold disc status by the R.I.A.A. [7] They broke through with their first release recorded with Hester, "Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get",[7] which Hester offered them after seeing the group perform in a Detroit nightclub. Despite the success the Dramatics had long aspired for, personnel shifts continued to hound them. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. According to his son, Prince William, King Charles is 'obsessed' with red squirrels Charles became patron of the Red Squirrel Survival Trust in 2008. WebWilliam Howard. [11] However, producer Don Davis re-signed them to Volt, a Stax subsidiary, in 1971 after the group teamed up with Detroit writer-producer, Tony Hester. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? After becoming a victim in the July 1967 Algiers Motel incident, including the police killing of the groups valet, Fred Temple, Reed left the group. All of the current members came to the awards as well as the mother of deceased member Lenny Mayes. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. By 1967, Motown had absorbed the entire Golden World Records operation. Only Banks, Ford and Mayes remained in the group. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. They were replaced by Larry James "L.J." Bronxville, Westchester County, New York, USA. Reynolds, who had spoken to Ron just minutes earlier. To this day we all carry a big hole in our hearts that will never be filled. According to his son, Prince William, King Charles is 'obsessed' with red squirrels Charles became patron of the Red Squirrel Survival Trust in 2008. the popular rare groove dancer 'Get It'. later that year. Also during this time, the Dramatics had signed with producer Don Davis' production company. The group recorded for Don Davis' Groovesville and later Great Lakes music production companies during the 1970s, although the recordings appeared on several labels. and continue to tour. They received national attention for their professionalism in 2001 when they performed a save for "Fly Jock" Tom Joyner, singing two sets during his show's appearance in Detroit on less than 12 hours notice after a cancellation by DeBarge. WebWilliam Howard later rejoined the original group for the albums 'Somewhere in Time: A Dramatic Reunion' in 1986, and 'Positive State Of Mind' in 1989. All Rights Reserved. After leaving the The Dramatics in 1972, he pursued a solo career. He rejoined The Dramatics for their reunion in 1986, but left again in 1989. He sang with a group called the Sir Primes whilst at high school. The group then signed for ABC in 1975 and transferred five years later to MCA, after ABC closed following its buy-out by MCA. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. The city of Detroit also named a street after The Dramatics in the Woodbridge James Mack Brown (who died on the 28th of November 2008 at the age of 58). No further details of Ron Banks' death were available at press time. Ford was born July 10, 1950 in LaGrange, Georgia. L.J. There was an error deleting this problem. William "Weegee" Howard, Weegee Howard. William "Weegee" Howard, Weegee Howard. During this time and pending legal procedures, the name of the group was changed to Ron Banks & the Dramatics. Ellington left the band at an early stage in the Sixties. Fords viewing is set for Tuesday, June 11 from 10 a.m. until closing at the Swanson Funeral Home (14751 West McNichols Road). Reynolds and Leonard "Lenny" Mayes (who died of lung cancer on November 8, 2004, at the age of 53). Drag images here or select from your computer for William Franklin Wee Gee Howard II memorial. the haunting ballad 'In The Rain'. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. 10th May 1951, Redford, Michigan, U.S.A. d. 4th March 2010, Sinai Hospital, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A.) - 1971 to 2010, Larry Cleveland Reed (lead singer) (b.1948, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A.) - 1962 to 1968, Elbert Wilkins (d. 13th December 1992, from a massive heart attack - formerly of the Theatrics) - 1962 to 1973, William 'Weegee' Howard (b. William Franklin Howard II, 13th July 1950, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A., d. 22nd February 2000, Bronxville, New York, U.S.A.) - 1968 to 1973 then 1986 to 1989, Willie Lee Ford Jnr.