Ken Snakehips Johnson
 |
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (October 2010) |
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.
[edit] References
- ^ Marlow's History at www.marlowtown.co.uk
- ^ The Ken SnakeHips Johnson Story at www.swingtime.co.uk
- ^ Ken 'Snakehips' Johnson at westendatwar.org (retrieved 11 January 2010)
- ^ Book reveals dark side of The Blitz, Daily Mail, 5 Oct 2006
[edit] External links
 |
This article about a British musician is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
