Since the 1940s to the 1970s, the Nigeran born George Folunsho “Ginger” Johnson (1916–1975) performed in the London circuit as a well-known percussionist, musician and bandleader. He was the leader of the ‘‘Ginger Johnson and His African Messengers band’’ playing a fusion of African and jazz music. He collaborated on recordings and performances with artists such as The Rolling Stones at their seminal 1969 Hyde Park concert, Ronnie Scott and Quincy Jones. Ginger Johnson, so called because of his reddish hair, came to London to join the British Merchant Navy, settling in London to work as a musician after the War. In 1950 he joined the Edmundo Ros Orchestra as lead percussionist, recording several albums with them. He became a fixture of the Swinging Sixties scene, running the Iroko club, frequented by Rod Stewart and Elton John in North London. He was involved in the first Notting Hill Carnival in 1966 and for a time ran workshops at Royal College of Music. As one of the pioneers of African music in the UK, his work is enjoying a revival. Two 1950s recordings were released on the compilation CD, London Is The Place For Me 4: African Dreams and the Piccadilly High Life, in 2006. The album African Party was re-released in 2015.
Refs: Ginger Johnson – Talking Head | Jazzwise
OFO The Black Company’s Nigerian Acid Rock Cult | Red Bull Music Academy Daily
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