<P> The Dramatics, founded by Ron Banks and Larry Reed, originally formed in 1964, recording as the Dynamics in 1965 . Their first release in 1965 entitled "Bingo" was recorded for the late Ed Wingate's Wingate record label, a division of Golden World Records in Detroit, Michigan . Due to a misprint, Wingate changed the name of the group from The Dynamics to The Dramatics in 1966 for the group's second release, "Inky Dinky Wang Dang Doo". By 1967, Motown had absorbed the entire Golden World Records operation . The Dramatics then moved to another local Detroit label, Sport Records, where they garnered their first minor hit single, "All Because of You ." After becoming a victim in the Algiers Motel incident, Reed left the group . </P> <P> The Dramatics originally signed for Stax Records of Memphis, Tennessee in 1968, but moved on after one unsuccessful release . However, producer Don Davis re-signed them to Stax subsidiary, Volt in 1971 after the group teamed up with Detroit writer - producer, Tony Hester . They broke through with their first release recorded with Hester, "Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get", which Hester offered them after seeing the group perform in a Detroit nightclub . The song went into the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #9 and climbing to #3 in the R&B chart . "Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get" was awarded gold disc status by the R.I.A.A. in December 1971 . </P> <P> Their members at this time were Ron Banks (who died of a heart attack on March 4, 2010, at the age of 58), William "Wee Gee" Howard (who died of a heart attack on February 22, 2000, at the age of 49), Elbert Wilkins (who died of a heart attack on December 13, 1992, at the age of 45), Willie Ford, Larry Demps and keyboardist James Mack Brown (who died on November 28, 2008, at the age of 58). </P> <P> Shortly after the success of their first album, Howard and Wilkins left the group and formed their own version of The Dramatics, recording the single "No Rebate On Love" on Mainstream Records . They were replaced by Larry James "L.J." Reynolds and Leonard "Lenny" Mayes (who died of lung cancer on November 8, 2004, at the age of 53). At the urging of Don Davis and Stax Records, the original group changed its billing to "Ron Banks and the Dramatics". These two groups toured the concert circuit for four years before Banks' group won a court battle, giving them full access to the name . Howard and Wilkins were forced to change the name of their group to "A Dramatic Experience". </P>

When did ron banks of the dramatics die