Hamilton Bohannon
b. 7 March 1942, Newnam, Georgia, USA, Bohannon graduated from Clark College with a BA in musical education and went into teaching before accepting an invitation to join a band, which also included Jimi Hendrix, as drummer. He came to the attention of Stevie Wonder, who appointed him drummer in his touring band in 1965. Over the next two years Bohannon's style impressed the hierarchy at Motown to such an extent that they made him top band leader, responsible for live arrangements for all Motown's top acts. When Motown relocated to Los Angeles, Bohannon stayed in Detroit, putting together his own band. Signing with Brunswick, he would go on to score hugely in the UK with South African Man, Disco Stomp (a Top 10 hit) and Foot Stompin' Music. Ironically quiet during the disco boom, he resurfaced with Mercury in 1978, returning to the charts with Let's Start The Dance, featuring Carolyn Crawford. Despite one further hit (in 1982 with Let's Start To Dance Again), Bohannon's sound and appeal had been overtaken by countless others.