If you are looking for Doo Wop, hit the back button on your browser. This is straight ahead rock and roll from a group that knew how to do it right. Tickle the ivories? No way, pianist and vocalist Mickey Hawks slammed em'. Born July 17th, 1940 in North Carolina, his mother played the piano, so he started in at age 13. Hawks and Bob Matthews, both eventual Night Raiders, first played together in a rock and roll group called the Rhythm Rockers, in and around the High Point area of North Carolina. Mathews soon joined Dallas "Moon" Mullins and his four piece country band that also played gigs in the High Point area. At Bob Matthews request, Mickey Hawks hooked up with the band making it a total of 5 members in 1957. From left to right, starting in the back row, Mickey hawks was piano and vocals, Bob Matthews played the drums, Moon Mullins guitar,sax and vocals. On the bottom left was 14 year old Bill Ballard on vocals and guitar ,and John Owens on vocals and bass. Their first record came out on three different labels. First on the Robbins Red label, owned by Eddie Robbins, and cut in a studio converted from a "screened in" back porch. Then it was issued on the Mart label from Martinsville, Virginia, with the label showing Moon Mullins and his Night Raiders, and then on the Chicago based Profile records. They ripped it up in the Chicago area, selling a reported 50,000 records. Folks, these records have to be heard to be believed! Check out my interview with original drummer Bob Matthews HERE! It was recorded in December of 2004. You can email Bob at
rmatthews5@triad.rr.com
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"Bip Bop Boom" was the first recording they made, but this is actually the third label is was issued on. It supposedly sold about 50,000 copies in the Chicago and midwest area in 1959.
It is also reported to have been a number one record in Johannesburg, South Africa, on the Truetone lable. Mickey Hawks has the lead vocals and is banging the piano. The flip, "Rock And Roll Rhythm" was written by Mickey Hawks and Bob Mathews, and rounded out a good pairing.
Released in 1958.
His follow-up was actually an instrumental called "Cottonpickin". It was done in the usual rockin style as other recordings by the group, and is quite enjoyable. It features some great guitar work by Bill Ballard, and he wrote the song. The flip, Hidi Hidi Hidi" showcased some great piano work from Hawks. Based on the label numbers, it would seem that the "A" and "B" sides should be reversed, but it is correct as shown. Notice that the "Hidi Hidi Hidi" side is credited to Mickey Hanks. My understanding is that there were original pressings in the late 1950's with this typo. Maybe I am wrong? The dead wax numbers are exactly the same with "Sheldon" stamped on both. See the picture set below for the correct label name credits. This record was released in 1959.
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Here is the same release with the more familiar, and correct name of Mickey hawks. The rest of the label information remains the same. Notice Mike Oury has songwriting credits on the "A" side, and has publishing as well. Oury was the owner of Profile records. |
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In 1961, the record was reissued on the Hunch label. They released only the Hanks last name, for some odd reason. This appears to be a New York based label, possibly distributed by Triodex.
Just when you thought it couldn't get any hotter, along comes "Screamin Mimi Jeanie". Actually the "B" side of the record, it is my favorite of all their issued recordings. 1:45 of straight ahead smoke! Mickey Hawks is on lead vocals, and a hot drum intro which continues up to the last note of the record, by Bob Matthews. "I'm Lost" was actually intended to be the plug side, but if I had been a DJ at the time, I would have flipped it! Issued in 1960.
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Credited to Moon Mullins and the Night Raiders, this 1961 release is another decent outing for the group. Not quite the up tempo treatment as some of the other singles, but a nice effort. "Gonna Dance Tonight part 1" and "Part 2" on the flip, which is an instrumental carrying the same theme from the "A" side. This is on the Lance label out of Virginia, owned by Jim Eanes. |
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From the 1960's, Mickey Hawks and Gwynn Kellum sing a duet on "Baby I Got You". Mickey Hawks takes the lead on the flip"Ain't Gonna Cry". A much different type of record pairing for Hawks and Mullins. This was likely released around 1968.
Here is a picture sleeve that was issued for the record above. A picture of Hawks, Mullins and Gwynn Kellum are in the bottom right inset.
An interesting reissue from the Dee Jay record label out of Germany. This put two recordings on one side and one on the other.
Here are both sides of the sleeve that was issued on Dee Jay. The picture on the right was taken after Bob Matthews left the group. Mickey Hawks is in the back, Ballard is on the left, Owens on the right, and the name of the drummer that replaced Matthews is likely Leroy Butler, and seated in front. Two great pictures of the group!
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Mickey Hawks was actively performing before his death in August of 1989. Bill Ballard passed away a couple of years ago (2005). Bob Matthews is alive and well in North Carolina, and can be heard in a great interview HERE! Moon resides in the Madison NC area and is retired from the radio station he owned, the dance club, etc,and can often be seen selling at a flea market in Eden NC, and the whereabouts of John Owens is unknown. I did hear from Gary Hartle, a later member of the group, circa 1965. He played sax along with Gilbert Poole on Organ, Leroy Butler on Drums and Ish Brady on piano. The band did not really exist with that line-up past about 1968. Ish Brady passed away around 1976 and the last band he was with was called Kallabash Corp. Also mentioned have been Roger Goins, Ronald Coleman, Johnny Auman and Sonny Boykin. Gary recalls playing at Moon's (Mullins) Danceland in Madison-Mayodan, NC, and the Night Raiders were the house band They also appeared on Jim Thornton's Danceland in Raleigh . It would be taped on Thursday night and aired on Saturday evening.... almost the same time they played at Danceland! Leroy Butler was in a Christian rock band 35 years ago, but has not been heard from. Sonny Boykin has his own club in NC. I now have a page devoted to group members getting in touch with long lost band buddies. With the Night Raiders group, there was obviously many iterations. See the page I mentioned HERE! If you can fill in the blanks, or even add a few, I welcome the input. |
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Gone Missing: The Robbins Red issue, of which 500 copies were pressed on red vinyl. Also the release on Mart records, another limited pressing from Virginia. |
