King Mojo Club
Encyclopedia
The King Mojo Club, often known as the Mojo, was a nightclub
in Sheffield
, South Yorkshire
that operated from 1964 to 1967.
Peter Stringfellow
and his brothers had been running the Black Cat Club in the city, which proved a success. In 1964, they opened a new venture, the King Mojo Club, in a converted house on Pitsmoor
Road to the north of the city centre. The house had recently served as Dey's School of Ballroom Dancing and benefited from a sprung dancefloor. The club never received a drinks license, but did have a coffee bar.
The club quickly became a centre of the northern soul
scene, with popular American acts such as Wilson Pickett
(backed by Reg Dwight's Bluesology
), Stevie Wonder
, Ike and Tina Turner, and Geno Washington
playing. It also hosted Edwin Starr
's first UK gig.
Stringfellow experimented with a records-only night on Tuesdays, then an original concept. He advertised the list of records which he would play in advance in the local newspaper.
The club hosted up and coming live acts, including Pink Floyd
and The Who
. The Small Faces played their first gig outside London at the Mojo, and The Kinks
worked out the arrangement of "All Day and All of the Night
" while at the club.
The Mojo Club was also known for its art. Its walls were decorated by Dave Manvell and Paul Norton in a pop art
style, Stringfellow himself painting African warriors dancing. Colin Duffield designed innovative posters for the club, later using his skills to produce a wide range of posters for other local venues.
In 1967, Stringfellow decided to refocus the club on psychedelic music
, renamed it the "Beautiful King Mojo", and redecorated it accordingly. He booked Jimi Hendrix
, who played despite a complaint about drug use. The Mojo also received complaints about noise, and its license was revoked later in the year. It was converted into a bingo club and was demolished in the 1980s. As a stopgap before their new club "The Penthouse" opened, Pete and Geoff ran Mojo nights in the basement ballroom at the city hall.This was a much bigger venue than the old club with a proper stage. Pete played records an introduced live acts including Johnny Johnson and the Bandwagon
and Martha and The Vandellas
. The Monday club night after Otis Redding
's death in December 1967 he played Redding's songs virtually all evening.
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
in Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It has a population of 1.29 million. It consists of four metropolitan boroughs: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and City of Sheffield...
that operated from 1964 to 1967.
Peter Stringfellow
Peter Stringfellow
Peter James Stringfellow is an English nightclub owner.-Early life:Stringfellow was born on 17 October 1940 to Elsie and James William Stringfellow , a steelworker...
and his brothers had been running the Black Cat Club in the city, which proved a success. In 1964, they opened a new venture, the King Mojo Club, in a converted house on Pitsmoor
Pitsmoor
Pitsmoor is a former village, now a suburb of Sheffield. The name derives from Or-pits as, anciently, the main local industry was the mining of ore.-History:...
Road to the north of the city centre. The house had recently served as Dey's School of Ballroom Dancing and benefited from a sprung dancefloor. The club never received a drinks license, but did have a coffee bar.
The club quickly became a centre of the northern soul
Northern soul
Northern soul is a music and dance movement that emerged from the British mod scene, initially in northern England in the late 1960s. Northern soul mainly consists of a particular style of black American soul music based on the heavy beat and fast tempo of the mid-1960s Tamla Motown sound...
scene, with popular American acts such as Wilson Pickett
Wilson Pickett
Wilson Pickett was an American R&B/Soul singer and songwriter.A major figure in the development of American soul music, Pickett recorded over 50 songs which made the US R&B charts, and frequently crossed over to the US Billboard Hot 100...
(backed by Reg Dwight's Bluesology
Bluesology
Bluesology was a 1960s English R&B group, best remembered as being the first professional band of which Reggie Dwight - later known as Elton John - was a member.-History:...
), Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
, Ike and Tina Turner, and Geno Washington
Geno Washington
Geno Washington is an American R&B singer who released five albums with The Ram Jam Band between 1966 and 1969, and eight solo albums beginning in 1976.-Early to late 1960s:...
playing. It also hosted Edwin Starr
Edwin Starr
Edwin Starr was an American soul music singer. Starr is most famous for his Norman Whitfield produced singles of the 1970s, most notably the number one hit "War".-Biography:...
's first UK gig.
Stringfellow experimented with a records-only night on Tuesdays, then an original concept. He advertised the list of records which he would play in advance in the local newspaper.
The club hosted up and coming live acts, including Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
and The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
. The Small Faces played their first gig outside London at the Mojo, and The Kinks
The Kinks
The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorised in the United States as a British Invasion band, The Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Their music was influenced by a...
worked out the arrangement of "All Day and All of the Night
All Day and All of the Night
"All Day and All of the Night" is a song by the British band The Kinks from 1964. It can be found on their debut album "Kinks". It reached #2 on the UK Singles Chart and #7 on Billboards United States chart in 1965....
" while at the club.
The Mojo Club was also known for its art. Its walls were decorated by Dave Manvell and Paul Norton in a pop art
Pop art
Pop art is an art movement that emerged in the mid 1950s in Britain and in the late 1950s in the United States. Pop art challenged tradition by asserting that an artist's use of the mass-produced visual commodities of popular culture is contiguous with the perspective of fine art...
style, Stringfellow himself painting African warriors dancing. Colin Duffield designed innovative posters for the club, later using his skills to produce a wide range of posters for other local venues.
In 1967, Stringfellow decided to refocus the club on psychedelic music
Psychedelic music
Psychedelic music covers a range of popular music styles and genres, which are inspired by or influenced by psychedelic culture and which attempt to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues-rock bands in the...
, renamed it the "Beautiful King Mojo", and redecorated it accordingly. He booked Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
, who played despite a complaint about drug use. The Mojo also received complaints about noise, and its license was revoked later in the year. It was converted into a bingo club and was demolished in the 1980s. As a stopgap before their new club "The Penthouse" opened, Pete and Geoff ran Mojo nights in the basement ballroom at the city hall.This was a much bigger venue than the old club with a proper stage. Pete played records an introduced live acts including Johnny Johnson and the Bandwagon
Johnny Johnson and the Bandwagon
Johnny Johnson and the Bandwagon were a U.S. vocal soul group, prominent in the late 1960s and early 1970s.-Career:Originally known simply as The Bandwagon, they were formed in 1967 and featured Artie Fullilove, Billy Bradley, Terry Lewis and lead singer Johnny Johnson Johnny Johnson and the...
and Martha and The Vandellas
Martha and the Vandellas
Martha and the Vandellas were among the most successful groups of the Motown roster during the period 1963–1967...
. The Monday club night after Otis Redding
Otis Redding
Otis Ray Redding, Jr. was an American soul singer-songwriter, record producer, arranger and talent scout. He is considered one of the major figures in soul and R&B...
's death in December 1967 he played Redding's songs virtually all evening.