Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band are an England-based soul band.

Background The Ram Jam Band were formed around 1964 by Pete Gage and Geoff Pullum. Before taking on Geno Washington, whom Gage knew from performing at the RAF Bentwaters US Air Force base, they had a Jamaican Blue Beat singer by the name of Errol Dixon front the band as they embarked on the London club circuit. Gage approached Washington to finance his demobbing to the US and to return to front the band as it seemed essential to have an American to perform US soul rather than the West Indian alternatives in London at that time.

Geno Washington was a US airman stationed in East Anglia who became well known for his impromptu performances in London nightclubs. In 1965, guitarist Pete Gage needed a singer to front his new band and replace the previous singer, Errol Dixon, and asked Washington to join. When Washington was discharged from the US Air Force, he became the band's frontman.

Career Their first single featuring Geno, "Shake, Shake, Senora" / "Akinla", released on Columbia,Who Sampled - Shake Shake Senora by Geno Washington & the Ram Jam BandStrange Brew - Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band 1965-1967 By Nick Warburton was not a commercial success. At some stage the band had recorded a demo of the Barbara Lynn hit "You'll Lose a Good Thing".ZEUS1938 Channel - IF YOU LOSE MELyrics - You'll Lose a Good Thing, Barbara Lynn

They released two live albums. Hand Clappin, Foot Stompin, Funky-Butt ... Live! was released in 1966, reached no.5 on the UK Albums Chart, and remained in the charts for 38 weeks. It was followed up by Hipster Flipsters Finger Poppin' Daddies in 1967, which reached no.8 on the chart. Geno Washington, Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 October 2014 They also had some moderate hit singles released by the Pye label: "Water", "Hi Hi Hazel", "Que Sera Sera" and "Michael (the Lover)".

They built a strong following with the crowds and due to their touring and energetic performances. Like their Pye label mates and rivals, Jimmy James and the Vagabonds, they became popular with the mod scene.

The band's name came from the Ram Jam Inn, an old coaching inn on the A1 (Great North Road) at Stretton, near Oakham, Rutland.

The new single "Hi Hi Hazel" was reviewed in the 16 July, 1966 issue of Disc and Music Echo in the Penny Picks the Pops section. Reviewer Penny noted that the Troggs were going to record the song as a single. Recalling that the band had a previous hit, she predicted the same for this single.Disc and Music Echo, July 16, 1966 - Page 15 penny PICKS THE pops, GENO WASHINGTON

At some stage, the group released an EP called Hi. It debuted at No. 9 on the Record Mirror Top E.P.'s chart for the week of 5 August 1967.Record Mirror, Week ending August 5th, 1967 - Page 11 TOP E.P.'s, 9 - Geno Washington (Pye) The single "She Shot a Hole in My Soul" was also bubbling under the Record Mirror Britian's Top 50 chart.Record Mirror, Week ending August 5th, 1967 - Page 11 BUBBLING UNDER, She Shot A Hole In My Soul - Geno Washington

It was reported by Record World in the 17 August, 1968 issue that there were very few English soul bands. But Jimmy James' band and Washington's bands were the two biggest soul bands and were among the ten highest paid bands of any kind there.Record World, August 17, 1968 - Page 107 record world's EYEVIEW EUROPE, R&B Happening in U. K. By Jean Griffiths

The band broke up in the autumn of 1969 and the band members went their own ways while Geno Washington continued as a solo artist before returning to the United States. Keyboard player Geoffrey K. Pullum became an academic linguist, and is today a professor emeritus at the University of Edinburgh. He was also a linguistics blogger at the Language Log and Lingua Franca websites.

The album Sifter Shifters & Finger Clickin' Mamas was listed as one of the best-selling albums from Pye by Cash Box in the magazine's July 5, 1969 issue.Cash Box, July 5, 1969 - 12 Part II - International Section BEST SELLING L.P.'S FROM PYE

Washington temporarily reformed the band between February and June 1971 with new band members Dave Watts (organ), Mo Foster (bass), Mike Jopp (guitar) and Grant Serpell (drums).

Since 2005, Geno Washington and The Ram Jam Band have been constantly playing shows. The line-up of the band is in early 2024: Greg Lester (Guitar and Backing Vocals); Nick Blake (Brass), Geoff Hemsley (Drums); Steve Bingham (Bass and Backing Vocals) and Geno Washington (Lead Vocals).

Former members Geno Washington, lead vocals Pete Gage, guitar Lionel Kingham, saxophone Buddy Beadle, saxophone Geoff Pullum aka Jeff Wright, organ John Roberts, bass Pete Carney, bass Herb Prestidge, drums Clive Burrows, saxophone Paul Turner, bass guitar Keith O'Connell, Hammond Organ (1968 - 1969)

Early Les Blues-line-up Tony Coe, double bass later replaced by John Game, bass guitar Colin Gilbert, piano/keyboards Morton Lewis, guitar Gerry Gillings, drums

Discography Albums Hand Clappin' Foot Stompin' Funky-Butt ... Live! – Piccadilly NPL 38026 – 1966 UK 5 Shake A Tail Feather – Piccadilly NPL.38029 – 1967 Hipsters, Flipsters, Finger-Poppin' Daddies – Piccadilly NPL.38032 – 1967 UK 8 Running Wild – Pye NSPL.18219 – 1968 Sifters, Shifters, Finger Clicking Mamas – Marble Arch MAL 816 (Mono) / MALS 816 (Stereo) – 1968 Uptight – Marble Arch MALS 1162 – 1969 Golden Hour of Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band – Golden Hour GSH 594 – 1975 Hand Clappin' Foot Stompin' Funky-Butt ... Live! (Reissue) – PYE NSPL 18618 – 1980

CDs Hip Shakin' Soul Breakin' Earthquakin' Live – PYE PYC 4018 – 1988 Hand Clappin Foot Stompin' Funky Butt Live – Repertoire REP 4189-WZ – 1991 Hipsters, Flipsters, Finger-Poppin' Daddies! – Repertoire REP 4190-WZ – 1991 Geno Washington VS. Jimmy James ... No Holds Barred Sequel NEX CD 169 Hand Clappin' Foot Stompin' Funky-Butt ... Live! & Hipsters Flipsters, Finger Poppin' Daddies! – C5 CD 581 – 1995 Geno – Spectrum 5507692 My Bombers, Mey Dexy's, My Highs (The Sixties Studio Sessions) – Sequel MEMCD 973 – 1998 Geno! Geno! Geno! ... Live in the 60's – Sequel NXTCD 295 – 1998 Foot Stompin' Soul – Castle 1304 – 2006 Geno Washington and The Ram Jam Band Live at The Half Moon Putney – PQFMusic/Pete Quaife Foundation – 2014

EPs Hi Piccadilly NEP.34054 – 1966 Different Strokes Pye 7N.17425 – 1967 Small Package of Hipsters Pye NEP.24302 -1968 Que Sera Sera Flashback FBEP.103 – 1980 Holding On with Both Hands – Acid Jazz – 2012Acid Jazz website Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band – on Acid Jazz Records

Singles "Shake, Shake, Senora" / "Akinla", Columbia 7621, 1965 (Ram Jam Band only) "Water" / "Understanding", Piccadilly 7N 35312, UK No. 39, May 1966 "Hi Hi Hazel" / "Beach Bash", Piccadilly 7N 35329, UK No. 45, July 1966 "Que Sera Sera" / "All I Need", Piccadilly 7N 35346, UK No. 43, October 1966 "Michael (the Lover)" / "Gotta Hold on to My Love", Piccadilly 7N 35359, UK No. 39, December 1966 "Always" / "If You Knew" / "She Shot a Hole in My Soul" / "I've Been Hurt by Love", Piccadilly 7N 35392, 1967 "Tell It Like It Is"/"Girl I Want To Marry You", Piccadilly 7N 35403, 1967 "Different Strokes"/"You Got Me Hummin'", Pye 7N 17425, 1967 "I Can't Quit Her"/"Put Out The Fire Baby", Pye 7N 17570, 1968 "I Can't Let You Go"/"Bring It To Me Baby", Pye 7N 17649, 1968 "My Little Chickadee"/"Seven Eleven", Pye 7N 17745, 1969

References

External links Brown Eyed Handsome Man – blog post about Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band fan site Geno Washington official Facebook BBC Previews and Features Bio by John Bush Globaldogproductions.info Capitol6000.com Glasgowmods.co.uk ZEUS1938 Channel, (audio) - Geno Washington and the original Ram Jam Band's 1st recordings, If You Lose Me