Ken 'Snakehips' Johnson (10 September 1914 – 8 March 1941) was a jazz band leader and dancer.
Born Kenrick Reginald Hymans Johnson, and originally from British Guiana, Johnson's parents sent him to the UK at the age of 15, where he attended Sir William Borlase's Grammar School, before studying medicine at Edinburgh University.[1] Having gained an interest in dance, he sought lessons from American choreographer, Buddy Bradley. It was in dance work that he earned his nickname, 'Snakehips', from his "fluid and flexible style"[2]
Johnson was invited to lead Leslie Thompson's band, before going on to start his own, called 'Ken Johnson and his Rhythm Swingers' (later renamed 'The West Indian Orchestra'), which played jazz and swing music. The band had a residency at the London nightclub Café de Paris. It was here on 8 March 1941, during the blitz, that two bombs came through the Rialto roof straight onto the Café dance floor soon after the start of a performance. Thirty-four people died,[3] including Johnson – who was decapitated – and most of his band.[4] After pondering for some time as to where to bury him, it was decided that his remains should be placed at his old school, Sir William Borlase's Grammar School. They reside in the school chapel, where a panel is dedicated to him.