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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZWASHINGTON, GenoSoul singer from Indiana who went to UK as serviceman and had chart success there. Began by leaping on to the stage of a club in East Anglia; went to London and sat in at Flamingo Club, a GI hangout. Left air force to sing full time; guitarist Pete Gage chose him to front his white Ram Jam Band (formed '65) incl. Jeff Wright, organ; John Roberts, bass; Herb Prestidge, drums; Bud Beadle, baritone sax; Lionel Kingham, tenor. Gained audience by cloning Stax sound (see Soul), emulating Sam and Dave, Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding, etc. After flop singles 'Water' and 'Hi Hi Hazel' they took the obvious step of recording a live LP; Hand Clappin' -- Foot Stompin' -- Funky Butt -- Live! was a top five LP late '66 without a hit single to help it; Hipsters, Flipsters, And Finger-Poppin' Daddies made top ten a year later, but his heyday ended: they couldn't replace covers with original material and went out of fashion overnight. Sisters, Shifters, Finger-Clickin' Mamas '68 didn't sell. He went to USA, learned guitar, bravely came back late '70s with rock trio: riding the disco wave which revived some fading soul stars would have been more logical at the time, but he did reach no. 1 UK as subject of Dexy's Midnight Runners' tribute 'Geno' '80 in the style he'd helped popularize in UK. Gage formed Vinegar Joe; Beadle sessioned, joined Cayenne. Geno came back with electric group Blues Question for What's In The Pot? '97 on Soundfix, still sounding good. |