Ken „Snakehips“ Johnson

Ken " Snakehips " Johnson (actually Kenrick Reginald Hymans Johnson, born September 10, 1910 in British Guiana; † March 8, 1941 in London) was a British musician and dancer; he was the first black swing band leader of Britain.

Johnson came from the former colony of British Guiana; his parents sent Kenrick, when he was 15 years old, to be educated in England, where he attended Sir William Borlase 's Grammar School in Marlow ( Buckinghamshire ). He then studied medicine at Edinburgh University; next he took dance lessons with the American choreographer Buddy Bradley. Johnson's portable dance style led to his nickname Snakehips First, he was a member of the Leslie Tompson band, before founding his own band, Ken Johnson and his Rhythm Swingers, which was later renamed The West Indian Orchestra. His band, which at times, the young guitarist Pete Chilver belonged, played jazz and swing and took 1938-1940 some records as Snakehips Swing for Decca Records on. The band had an engagement at London nightclub Café de Paris; during an air raid on London on March 8, 1941, two bombs fell on the building, which 34 people were killed, including Ken Johnson and most of his band members. He was buried in the chapel of his old school in Marlow.