Geno Washington

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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.

1 Early to late 1960s
2 The 1970s
3 The 1980s
4 The 1990s to present
5 Trivia
6 References
7 External links

[edit] Early to late 1960s

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, Leicestershire. Gage later formed Vinegar Joe with Elkie Brooks, who he married, and Robert Palmer.

[edit] The 1970s

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)

[edit] The 1980s

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.

[edit] The 1990s 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".

[edit] Trivia

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.

He is also the man who in 1984 met Ian Brown at a birthday party in Manchester, telling young Brown that he was a star who should begin singing.^{[citation needed]} Brown went on to form The Stone Roses, the legendary British guitar band, and have a successful, critically acclaimed solo career.

He is also the author of Blood Brothers (Bloodlines S.) 1998 published by The Do-Not Press,ISBN: 1899344446

Geno is an excellent speaker and a member of the Guild of Hypnotists