The Love Of My Woman – Darrell Banks | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning

Chart Performance: *Did Not Chart; 1968

Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne

Like many African-American singers of the 1950’s and 1960’s, Darrell Eubanks started singing in church. Raised in Buffalo, NY, it was there that he made the move from sacred to secular, singing at local clubs as Darrell Banks.

One of those night spots was the Revilot, owned by Doc Murphy, who was, in fact, a real doctor. Darrell’s first debut single was Open The Door To Your Heart, released on a label named after the dentist’s club.

Open The Door climbed to #2 R&B in the fall of 1966, and everything was going perfect for Banks, but not for the song’s writer. It seems Banks had taken composer credit – and, therefore, royalties – for a song written by Darrell’s friend, Donnie Elbert.

Things didn’t go as well for Darrell after that: his second single lasted only four weeks on the R&B chart. Other fine sides followed, including The Love Of My Woman, yet Darrell’s day was done. In March of 1970, he was killed by an off duty policeman in an altercation over a woman.

This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.

Produced by:

  • Don Davis

Lyrics Written by:

  • Don Davis
  • Freddie Briggs

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Ed Osborne

Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).