Geno Washington and The Ram Jam Band had two of the biggest selling UK albums of the sixties. Amazingly both of these were live albums. Hand Clappin, Foot Stompin, Funky Butt Live was in the album charts for 48 weeks of the year 1966 and was only out-sold by The Sound of Music and Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme.
US soul acts rarely visited the UK and, having come over as a part of the US Air Force and stayed, Geno was our soul man. His level of touring and the high energy of his gigs was, and still is (as immortalized by Dexy’s Midnight Runners in the 80’s hit Geno) the stuff of legends. During his sets, the beat was continuous and the hits were incessant.
It was really Geno who pioneered this Go, Go style of performing and the audiences simply could not get enough. With the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Cream, and Pink Floyd in support Geno could never relax. These spiritual meanderings were abruptly halted when, in 1980 Blighty beckoned once more. A call came from old friends in the UK that a tribute called Geno (mentioned above) had gone to number one in the charts.
In interviews, the singer, Kevin Roland, was speaking of this legendary soul man, whose name they used to chant up and down the land and public interest in Geno was growing for a new generation. Soon, Anglophile Geno, was back in the UK and back on the road.
More Events in Greater London Listings MORE
Retrograde
★★★★★ ‘The finest new play about a pivotal moment in civil rights history’ The Telegraph Following its…
Secrets of Soho, Black History Walk
This special walk delves into an amazing depth of African/Caribbean history between Soho Square and Russell Square. …
City Of London: Slave Trade Money Trail Tour
Find out how London keeps its memory of the glorification of stolen African lives that capitalised the “streets…
African and Caribbean folktales with Wendy Shearer
Join professional storyteller Wendy Shearer for fun-filled tales from her collection of African and Caribbean folktales, myths and…
Hair Loss and Cancer Treatment
C & Hair (www.caringforhair.org/cancer-and-hair) are holding a joint event with NHS South East London ICB in Peckham Library, 122,…
Black History Bus tour
Three-hour bus drive showing London’s top tourist attractions from an African/Caribbean perspective Join us on our three-hour drive…
Teaching Information Event
Join us for an informal chat about the different routes into teaching and the pathways available to gain Qualified Teacher Status…
Black & White Resistance in Brixton: Windrush, Squats, Uprising and Gay Lib
From WWII Brixton is a centre for black Britons as well as South London fairies, squatters, poets, Latin…