The Dramatics' Ron Banks Dies

Ron Banks, 58, died of a heart attack last Thursday, March 4th, in his Detroit home.

He was born May 10, 1951 in Detroit. Banks was one of the original members of The Dramatics, a thriving band in the '70s, which started out as The Dynamics in the '60s.

The quintet consisted of Banks, Larry Reed, Larry Demps, Elbert Wilkens and Rob Davis after founder Robert Ellingston became absent from the group. More changes occurred within the group. Reed and Davis were eventually replaced with William Howard and Willie Ford, who were former members of the Capitols.

The group's first hit was "All Because of You" in 1967, but their big break did not come until 1971 when "Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get" was released. The song acquired the No. 3 position on the R&B chart and with their "In The Rain" song the No. 1 spot was grabbed the following year.

Banks stayed with the group through their many hits including "Hey You! Get Off My Mountain," "Be My Girl," and "Get Up and Get Down," but he was eventually forced to make his own rendition of the band entitled Ron Banks & The Dramatics.

Soon after their last hit, "Welcome Back Home," Banks pursued a solo career, but reunions were common.

Three other members died years before Banks - Wilkens in 1992, Howard in 2000, and James Mack Brown in 2006 - and two of the deaths were due to heart attacks as well.

According to Spinner.com, Banks is survived by wife Sandy and their six children.