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Geno Washington | |
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 Pictured in 2007 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | William Francis Washington |
| Born | (1943-12-21)December 21, 1943 (age 81) |
| Origin | Evansville, Indiana, United States |
| Genres | Soul,R&B, pop,blues |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | 1966–present |
| Labels | Piccadilly,Marble Arch,Pye,DJM |
| Website | www |
Geno Washington (bornWilliam Francis Washington; December 21, 1943, inEvansville, Indiana) is an AmericanR&B singer who released five albums withthe Ram Jam Band between 1966 and 1969, and eight solo albums beginning in 1976.
Washington was stationed in England with theUnited States Air Force during the early 1960s.[1] While stationed inEast Anglia, Washington became known as a frequent stand-in atgigs around London.[1] When guitaristPete Gage saw him at anightclub in 1965, he asked Washington to join his new group, that was to becomeGeno Washington & the Ram Jam Band.[1] Gage later formedVinegar Joe withElkie Brooks andRobert Palmer.[1] The band's name came from theRam Jam Inn, an oldcoaching inn on theA1 (Great North Road) atStretton, nearOakham,Rutland.
The group had two of the biggest selling UK albums of the 1960s, both of which were live albums.[1] Their most commercially successful album,Hand Clappin, Foot Stompin, Funky-Butt ... Live!, was in theUK Albums Chart for 38 weeks in 1966 and 1967, peaking at number 5 on the chart. The other album wasHipster Flipsters Finger Poppin' Daddies, which reached number 8 on the UK album chart.[2] The group had a number of moderateUK Singles Charthits during 1966–67 on thePye label: "Water" (which reached no. 39), "Hi Hi Hazel" (no. 45), "Que Sera Sera" (no. 43) and "Michael (The Lover)" (no. 39).[1] They managed to build up a strong following with the crowds due to their energetic tour performances.[1] Like their Pye label mates and rivalsJimmy James and the Vagabonds, they became popular with themod scene. The band broke up in the autumn of 1969, with the band members going their own ways while Geno Washington continued as a solo artist, prior to returning to the United States.[1] Keyboard playerGeoff Pullum became an academic linguist, and is today emeritus professor at the University of Edinburgh.[3]
It was reported byRecord Mirror in the magazine's July 13, 1968 issue that Washington was writing and looking to direct a documentary about racism. With the majority of the filming to be done in London, there was to be added clips that showed racial violence in South Africa. With a budget of UK 12,000 the planned release was to be some time after January 1969. It was also announced that Washington was writing a book,One Way Ticket to the White House which was to be released in paperback form in the UK and US sometime in 1968.[4]
Washington left the UK to return to the United States and disappeared from themusic industry for a length of time. He studiedhypnosis andmeditation, made acquaintance withThe Beach Boys andrecorded some music with them that was never released. He would later record three albums for the DJM label,Geno's Back (1976),Live (1976), andThat's Why Hollywood Loves Me (1979).[1]
In May 1976, he released a single, "You Lovely Witch". Washington co-produced it with Kaplan Kaye. It was released on DJM 1011. A Single Pick for May 29, 1976,Record World predicted that a lot of plays would pick up R&B action.[5]
He was encouraged to make a comeback in 1980 due to the rekindled interest in him resulting from theDexys Midnight Runners hit single "Geno",[1] but he initially declined, as he was completing his degree in hypnotism. But soon he was back in the UK touring extensively and playing many gigs, particularly in south-east London.
Washington was appearing at the Triad Leisure Centre atBishop's Stortford on December 5, 1980.[6]
Washington has been active on stage, recording and releasing new music on various labels, with 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" and "What's in the Pot?".
As of 2021, Washington and his band could be regularly seentouring in the UK. In January 2009 he released a single "I'm Doing 99 Years" and the proceeds from the single's sales will go to the victims of crime and child abuse.[7] In July 2009 he headlined the Kelvedon Free Music Festival. In August 2010, Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band were one of the headline acts atRhythm Festival,[8] and appeared at theGulbenkian Theatre, Canterbury in October 2010. More recently, in October 2014, they performed in the Spiegeltent at theCanterbury Festival of Arts.[9]
Washington has appeared on television since the 1960s. In 1966 he appeared in Episode 11 ofReady Steady Go! This episode also featured other stars such asFrançoise Hardy,Cilla Black,Wayne Fontana andthe Spencer Davis Group. In 1967, along with theRam Jam Band, he appeared onThe Record Star Show and doubtless others in the 1960s. Since then he has appeared onTop Ten (1980) in 2000 and the mini seriesS.O.U.L.—Sounds of Underground London in 2003.
Geno appears in the movieA Bit of Tom Jones?, which had its London premiere in 2009. The film, which was made by Tred Films in Tredegar in South Wales, starsJonny Owen and Roger Evans, with a cast includingMatt Berry,John Henshaw andDenise Welch. The film won the BAFTA Cymru "Best Film" award in 2010.[10]
He has embraced acting, taking a role inPaparazzo, a 1995 film starringNick Berry andFay Masterson. In 2007 he appeared as himself in an episode ofMidsomer Murders, entitled "The Axeman Cometh", that also featuredSuzi Quatro andMike Read.[11]
He is the author ofThe Blood Brothers, awar exploitation story. Washington has also written children's stories. He has appeared as a motivational speaker.
Washington is a member of the Guild of Hypnotists.[12] He has also included hypnotism as part of his act.[1] In the past his show has consisted of some demonstrations of hypnotism in the first half and some "Get down soul music" in the second half.
He recently collaborated with comedian and musicianMatt Berry for the track "Get Here in Time". Also in other activities involving Matt Berry,[13] Geno is featured on a 2012 song by Berry called "Theme From Snuff Box".[14]
Geno met his wife Frenchie atThe Bag O'Nails club in London, which is also where her sister metPeter Noone ofHerman's Hermits, whom she married. This is also the same club where Paul McCartney met Linda Eastman.[15]
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