Darrell Banks - Popular Singer Shot To Death

[Guest Carl Dixon]

This story hit the US wires in 2003. Because of UK intervention, Darrell Banks now has a marked grave paid for by fans from around the world who have celebrated his music for 40 years:

https://www.metrotimes.com/editorial/story.asp?id=6620

[Deegee]

This story hit the US wires in 2003. Because of UK intervention, Darrell Banks now has a marked grave paid for by fans from around the world who have celebrated his music for 40 years:

https://www.metrotimes.com/editorial/story.asp?id=6620

great story! i especially liked the quote about uk soulies!- a collection of some of the world's most obsessed music fans "

[Tomangoes]

The guys who put Darrel Banks final dignity back deserve respect.

Like the story about Bob Relf on here not getting his full royalties from those who profit at his expense, they should make a donation and keep these stars memories alive. Maybe a Soul hall of fame.

Ed

[Guest topcatnumpty1]

YeH,I remember i chipped in thro the Soulful Detroit Forum and it was great to see the memorial stone (in the design of a bench) finally in place ,after so many years.

. Regards

Tony Coleby

[Guest Carl Dixon]

[Denbo]

This story hit the US wires in 2003. Because of UK intervention, Darrell Banks now has a marked grave paid for by fans from around the world who have celebrated his music for 40 years:

https://www.metrotimes.com/editorial/story.asp?id=6620

Unbelievable. I didn't know that but I'm glad I do now.

That really hit the spot. It was very touching and I'm glad you posted it here on Soul Source.

My old mate Frank Jackson, if he were alive today, would be blubbering tears all over the place right now as Darrell Banks was by far one of his all-time favourite recording artists.

Thinking of you big fella.

Dennis.

[Larsc]

Not just uk fans who contributed, but if you want to know who chipped in the list is here.

[Guest Carl Dixon]

That's correct Lars. It was a worldwide affair. The confusion at graveside because there were 1 English, 2 Scottish, a Native New Yorker and a Cleveland member watching the spade dig in the turf for about 3 minutes until it hit something, was enough to bring the attendant to tears as the penny dropped while we were there discussing.

The strangest thing happened on that trip. I bought my first Darrell Banks records 'The love of my woman'/Cotillion from 'Soul Scene'/Telford around 1974. I lived at an address '539' somewhere in Hull. I had arrived early at the New York airport, bound for Detroit. They quickly whisked me onto the earlier flight 539, which made me arrive an hour before my colleagues who departed another airport. So I waited at the car hire place for them to arrive. Then....on the day at the grave side when the spade hit the 8" oval concrete number plate, the grass was peeled off to reveal 539 again. It seemed that number was destined to be part of the holiday.

There is more footage of the memorial stone and a pity it is not available. The story was covered because of its significance and how emotional some of the soul fans are about Detroit music from that period. I will be honest, I was not fussy about visiting the grave on that day, but, once I saw the reaction on the attendants face that realised he was witnessing for the first time, visitors to a legends grave and what it meant to his community, I was pleased to be there. David Meikle said to me something like: 'Carl, we can't leave it like this. We have to do something and give this man his dignity back'. I cannot remember the exact words, but....you could feel the pain in his heart as he spoke about erecting something for the future in case others went and wanted to pay their respects.

Once I knew the bench was ready, I rang Fox Detroit from London on my night shift at work. My TV station is affiliated with FOX and we deal with New York every day with news stories etc. I asked if this feel good story, with international ramifications, would be of any interest to them. They said it was one of the most unusual stories they had heard and wanted to cover it. I was hoping to get New York interested, because that news channel is world wide and even seen on satellite here in the UK. Strangely, every internet story about this memorial was a result of Fox TV airing the story locally in Detroit. The 'wires' picked it up and I am sure something like 20 or so news agencies published the story on the net in America. Interestingly, the memorial park attendant told us there were enough stars buried there for a day trip, also without appropriate headstones!