Friday November 19th 1976

Visit of pop extrovert Geno Washington.
One of the pop world’s most extrovert but entertaining characters visits the Country Bumpkin on Friday.

Geno Washington will be remembered for his unforgettable spell with the “Ram Jam Band” which incited a cult following that has lasted until today.
A former U.S. Airforce man from Indian, Geno arrived in Britain in 1961, and became a pop singer through one of those stories that seem to come from a comic book.
He was walking down Wardour Street one day when a man approached him and asked if he could sing. Geno replied “yes” and did so.

From pubs to clubs to touring with acts like the Animals, Otis Redding, the Rolling Stones and Rod Stewart they built up a tremendous following.
The Ram Jam Band’s first album, “Hand clappin’, foot stompin’ funky but live” made number two in the charts and stayed for 42 weeks.
The band split in 1967.

He other members went their separate ways to success with other gig groups, like Led Zeppelin, Vinegar Joe and Greenslade. Geno went to Spain.
He came back recently for a holiday, but was persuaded to get back to work and now embarks on a massive tour of 51 stops.

To tie in with that, a new single has been released. A number called “The end of the World” on the DJM label, and it is confidently expected to be latched onto by all the old fans and a lot of new ones to.

The above article sourced from the Andover Advertiser 1975

Geno Washington (Born William Francis Washington, December 1943 - ) is a British R&B musician born in Evansville, Indiana, released five albums with The Ram Jam Band between 1966 and 1969, and eight solo albums beginning in 1976

Early to late 1960's
Geno was stationed in England for the Air Force during the early 1960s.
While stationed in East Anglia, Washington became known as a frequent stand-in at gigs around London. When guitarist Pete Gage saw him at a club in 1965, he asked Washington to join his new group that was to become a popular live British group called the Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band. that had a number of moderate U.K. chart hits during 1966-1967 on the PYE label.
Ram Jam Band name from the Ram Jam Inn an old Coaching Inn on the A1 at Stretton.

The 1970's
He left the UK to go back to the United States and disappeared from show business for a length of time, studied hypnosis and meditation and hung out with The Beach Boys and recorded some music with them that was never released.
He later recorded three albums for the DJM label, Geno's Back (1976), Live (1976), That's Why Hollywood Loves Me (DJM 1979)

The 1980's
Geno was encouraged to make a comeback in 1980 due to the rekindled interest in him resulting from the Dexys Midnight Runners hit single "Geno" , he declined however as he was completing his degree in hypnotism

The 1990's to present
Geno has been active on stage and recoding and releasing new music on various labels , titles such as "Change Your Thoughts You Change Your Life" , "Live Sideways" , "Loose Lips" , "Put Out The Cat" , "The Return Of The G" , "Take This Job And Stuff It" , "Whats In The Pot" etc

He has embraced acting, having a role in Paparazzo, a 1995 Independent Film starring Nick Berry and Fay Masterson. There has been talk of more work in film, possibly a movie role.
In 2007 he appeared as himself in Midsomer Murders" The Axeman Cometh that also featured Suzi Quatro and Veteran British DJ, Mike Read.

He is also a published author having written a novel called ‘The Blood Brothers’, a type of fast paced war exploitation story with the hilarious main character Robbie Jones, a rough talking Afro-American Vietnam Vet who is thrust into a world of danger and intrigue that takes him from the jungles of South East Asia to the deserts of Mauritana, fighting slavery and injustice alongside a colourful cast of characters , possibly the type of story line veteran Blaxploitation actor Fred Williamson would have loved to have used in one of his productions.

He has also penned children's stories and has been something of a motivational speaker.

As of summer 2007 Geno and his band can still regularly be seen touring and performing in the UK.

He recently collaborated with comedian and musician Matt Berry for the track "Get Here In Time".

Geno Washington is the "Geno" of Dexys Midnight Runners' eponymous 1980 single, and is not to be confused with Gino Washington, also a 1960s R&B singer who had a number of local hit songs in his home base of Detroit during that time.

Sourced from Wikipedia

06.07.2008. 18:53

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