Delightful Big Bank Hank

Hank Jackson, aka Big Bank Hank, died Nov. 11, 2014, after a long battle with cancer.

As part of seminal hip-hop trio the Sugarhill Gang, Hank helped introduce rap and hip-hop to mainstream audiences with his performance on the group’s 1979 single “Rapper’s Delight.” The song proved an instant success, earning both gold and platinum records and proving that the new genre could be commercially viable.

In the decades since the Sugarhill Gang brought rap to the airwaves, the art form has changed and evolved, but the pure joy of their music still has an undeniable charm.

We remember Big Bank Hank with a look back at his life and music.

• 7 Things You Never Knew About Big Bank Hank

• The splashiest voice on "Rapper's Delight" helped introduce hip hop to a generation