Hamilton Bohannon
Encyclopedia
Hamilton Bohannon is an American
percussionist, band leader and record producer
, who was one of the leading figures in 1970s disco
music. After 1980 he was usually credited simply as Bohannon.
and playing in local bands
, he was hired as drummer
in the touring band of 13-year-old Stevie Wonder
. He moved to Detroit in 1967 and was employed by Motown
as band leader and arranger
for many of the label
’s top acts
. When Motown moved from Detroit in 1972, he stayed behind to form his own band. His band featured members of the Detroit band, The Fabulous Counts.
He signed with Dakar/Brunswick Records
and in early 1973 released the album, Stop & Go
. This was followed by five more albums for the label over the next two years, on which he perfected his formula of heavy, thudding bass accents and aggressive rhythms. Although several of his tracks were club
hits, he had limited chart
success – however, in 1975 "Disco Stomp" made the Top Ten in the UK
, and "Foot Stompin’ Music" later that year scraped into the Billboard Hot 100
and R&B Top 40.
In 1976, Bohannon signed to Mercury Records
and two years later had his biggest success with "Let’s Start The Dance." It made the R&B Top Ten and featured the singer Carolyn Crawford
, whose subsequent albums
Bohannon went on to produce
.
Although he continued to release records
through the 1980s using new vocalists Liz Lands and Altrinna Grayson, he met with diminishing success. Nevertheless, more recently his music
has been widely sample
d, most notably Chicago DJ/Producer Paul Johnson
's 1999 hit "Get Get Down" which heavily sampled Bohannon's "Me and the Gang."
His name was mentioned in the Tom Tom Club
song "Genius of Love
."
Bohannon is a devout Christian
and dedicated his album "Dance Your Ass Off" to "God and His Son, Jesus Christ". The album also included a disclaimer that "The word 'ass' is not used here in the sense of profanity."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stop_%26_Go
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
percussionist, band leader and record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, who was one of the leading figures in 1970s disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
music. After 1980 he was usually credited simply as Bohannon.
Career
After graduating from Clark College, AtlantaClark Atlanta University
Clark Atlanta University is a private, historically black university in Atlanta, Georgia. It was formed in 1988 with the consolidation of Clark College and Atlanta University...
and playing in local bands
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
, he was hired as drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
in the touring band of 13-year-old 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...
. He moved to Detroit in 1967 and was employed by Motown
Motown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
as band leader and arranger
Arrangement
The American Federation of Musicians defines arranging as "the art of preparing and adapting an already written composition for presentation in other than its original form. An arrangement may include reharmonization, paraphrasing, and/or development of a composition, so that it fully represents...
for many of the label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
’s top acts
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
. When Motown moved from Detroit in 1972, he stayed behind to form his own band. His band featured members of the Detroit band, The Fabulous Counts.
He signed with Dakar/Brunswick Records
Brunswick Records
Brunswick Records is a United States based record label. The label is currently distributed by E1 Entertainment.-From 1916:Records under the "Brunswick" label were first produced by the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company...
and in early 1973 released the album, Stop & Go
Stop & Go
Stop & Go is the first studio album by American musician Hamilton Bohannon. It was recorded and released in 1973 by Dakar/Brunswick Records. The most famous song of the record is Save Their Souls. It was used a lot of times as a sample to many hip hop songs Stop & Go is the first studio album by...
. This was followed by five more albums for the label over the next two years, on which he perfected his formula of heavy, thudding bass accents and aggressive rhythms. Although several of his tracks were club
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
hits, he had limited chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
success – however, in 1975 "Disco Stomp" made the Top Ten in 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...
, and "Foot Stompin’ Music" later that year scraped into the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
and R&B Top 40.
In 1976, Bohannon signed to Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
and two years later had his biggest success with "Let’s Start The Dance." It made the R&B Top Ten and featured the singer Carolyn Crawford
Carolyn Crawford
Caroline Crawford is an American rhythm and blues and disco singer and actress, who recorded as Carolyn Crawford for Motown Records in the early 1960s, and for other labels later in her career.-Career:...
, whose subsequent albums
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
Bohannon went on to produce
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
.
Although he continued to release records
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
through the 1980s using new vocalists Liz Lands and Altrinna Grayson, he met with diminishing success. Nevertheless, more recently his music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
has been widely sample
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
d, most notably Chicago DJ/Producer Paul Johnson
Paul Johnson
-Sports:*Paul Johnson , head football coach at Georgia Tech*Paul Johnson [1896-1973], Major League outfielder*Paul Johnson , English cricketer*Paul Johnson , English footballer...
's 1999 hit "Get Get Down" which heavily sampled Bohannon's "Me and the Gang."
His name was mentioned in the Tom Tom Club
Tom Tom Club
Tom Tom Club is an American new wave band founded in 1981 by husband-and-wife team Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz, both also known for being bandmembers of Talking Heads.-Biography:...
song "Genius of Love
Genius of Love
"Genius of Love" is a 1981 song by Tom Tom Club from their eponymous debut album.-Song:"Genius of Love" was Tom Tom Club's second single. Although the album had not been released in North America, over a hundred thousand copies of the single sold as imports from Island Records's UK, at which point...
."
Bohannon is a devout Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
and dedicated his album "Dance Your Ass Off" to "God and His Son, Jesus Christ". The album also included a disclaimer that "The word 'ass' is not used here in the sense of profanity."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stop_%26_Go
Chart singles
| Year | Single | Chart Positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Pop Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
US R&B Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,... |
UK UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
||
| 1974 | "South African Man" | - | 78 | 22 |
| 1975 | "Foot Stompin Music" | 98 | 39 | 23 |
| "Disco Stomp" | - | 62 | 6 | |
| "Happy Feeling" | - | - | 49 | |
| 1976 | "Bohannon's Beat" | - | 65 | - |
| 1977 | "Bohannon Disco Symphony" | - | 67 | - |
| 1978 | "Let's Start the Dance" | 101 | 9 | 56 |
| 1979 | "Me and the Gang" | - | 82 | - |
| "Cut Loose" | - | 43 | - | |
| "The Groove Machine" | - | 60 | - | |
| 1980 | "Baby I'm For Real" | - | 54 | - |
| "Throw Down the Groove" | - | 59 | - | |
| "Dance, Dance, Dance All Night" | - | 76 | - | |
| 1981 | "Don't Be Ashame To Call My Name" | - | 54 | - |
| "Goin' For Another One" | - | 91 | - | |
| "Let's Start II Dance Again" feat. Dr. Perri Johnson |
- | 41 | 49 | |
| 1982 | "I've Got the Dance Fever" | - | 72 | - |
| "The Party Train" | - | 69 | - | |
| 1983 | "Make Your Body Move" | - | 63 | - |
| "Wake Up" | - | 87 | - | |
External links
- [ Hamilton Bohannon biography] at Allmusic websiteWebsiteA website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...