Willie Banks (May 11, 1929 – February 1, 1993), was an American gospel singer, songwriter, and originator of his backing band, The Messengers.
While with the Jackson Southernaires, Banks made his first big hit in 1964 on Peacock Records with the song "Too Late".
Banks was born on May 11, 1929, in Raymond, Mississippi, and his mother started him singing at five years.
[1][2][3] The group had a tragic accident on July 6, 1981, with their van careening down a 50-foot embankment near Atlanta, Georgia that killed one band member by the name of Willie "Bill" Badger of Yemassee, South Carolina, one of the Lead guitarists at the time.
[1][2][3] Banks gave an account of the accident in a sermonette when he re-recorded his hit "God's Goodness" in 1982.
He sang with one of the earliest versions of The Violinaires of Detroit, Michigan prior to the arrival of Robert Blair.
He was buried at Garden Memorial cemetery in Jackson (Hinds County) MS.