Career
He started his music career with The Messengers, in 1972, but their first release, Look at the Blessings, came out in 1986 with Malaco Records. He would release thirteen albums with two labels, Malaco Records and Black Label Recordings. Banks got two of them to place on the Billboard magazine Gospel Albums chart, The Legend Lives On in 1992 and 1993"s The Best of Willie Banks, and the last one was a posthumously released album.
Banks was born on May 11, 1929 in Raymond, Mississippi, and his mother started him signing at five years.
He formed The Southernaires, but they got disbanded, which facilitated him forming The Messengers. The group had a tragic accident in 1981 with their van careening down a 50 foot embankment, and it killed one band member, while Banks was left to cling to life for several days before rescuers found him.
This was the impetus for him and the band to sign with Malaco Records and release gospel music albums. He commenced his recording music career in 1986, with the release of Look at the Blessings with Malaco Records.
They would release twelve more albums with some being released posthumously, and two of these charted on the Billboard magazine Gospel Albums chart.
The 1992 album, The Legend Lives On, placed on that particular chart at Number. 19, while the 1993 album, Best of Willie Banks, placed at Number. 40. He released albums with only two labels, Malaco Records and Black Label Recordings.
Personal Willie Banks died in 1993 due to heart failure.
He was buried at Garden Memorial cemetery in Jackson (hinds county) Mississippi.
