A very early R&B star, Hank Ballard helped shape the early days of Rock and Roll.  Ballard did it all, but he was at his best with his risqué version of R&B which helped to set Rock and Roll’s eventual tone.  Ballard was also important in Doo Wop and Dance craze recordings, and if any artist symbolized 50’s music, it could be argued that it would be Hank Ballard.