Ken Snakehips Johnson
Encyclopedia
Ken 'Snakehips' Johnson (10 September 1914 – 8 March 1941) was a jazz
band leader and dance
r.
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. 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"
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, including Johnson – who was decapitated – and most of his band. 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.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
band leader and dance
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
r.
Born Kenrick Reginald Hymans Johnson, and originally from British Guiana
British Guiana
British Guiana was the name of the British colony on the northern coast of South America, now the independent nation of Guyana.The area was originally settled by the Dutch at the start of the 17th century as the colonies of Essequibo, Demerara, and Berbice...
, Johnson's parents sent him to the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
at the age of 15, where he attended Sir William Borlase's Grammar School
Sir William Borlase's Grammar School
Sir William Borlase's Grammar School is a selective state grammar school accepting girls and boys aged 11–18 located in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, England. It is situated on West Street, close to the town centre and also accepts students from nearby towns...
, before studying medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
at Edinburgh University. 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"
Johnson was invited to lead Leslie Thompson
Leslie Thompson (musician)
Leslie Anthony Joseph Thompson was a Jamaican jazz trumpeter.Thompson played in the West India Regiment band and played locally in Kingston movie palaces in the 1920s, then moved to London in 1929. In 1930 he began playing with Spike Hughes, where he played trumpet, trombone, and double bass until...
'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
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
and swing
Swing (genre)
Swing music, also known as swing jazz or simply swing, is a form of jazz music that developed in the early 1930s and became a distinctive style by 1935 in the United States...
music. The band had a residency at the London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
Café de Paris
Café de Paris (London)
Café de Paris is a London nightclub, located in the West End, beside Leicester Square on Coventry Street, Piccadilly.It opened in 1924 and subsequently featured such performers as Dorothy Dandridge, Marlene Dietrich, Harry Gold, Harry Roy, Ken Snakehips Johnson and Maxine Cooper Gomberg...
. It was here on 8 March 1941, during the blitz
The Blitz
The Blitz was the sustained strategic bombing of Britain by Nazi Germany between 7 September 1940 and 10 May 1941, during the Second World War. The city of London was bombed by the Luftwaffe for 76 consecutive nights and many towns and cities across the country followed...
, 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, including Johnson – who was decapitated – and most of his band. 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
Sir William Borlase's Grammar School
Sir William Borlase's Grammar School is a selective state grammar school accepting girls and boys aged 11–18 located in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, England. It is situated on West Street, close to the town centre and also accepts students from nearby towns...
. They reside in the school chapel, where a panel is dedicated to him.