Biography
Ken "Snakehips" Johnson (10 September 1914 – 8 March 1941) was a jazz band leader and dancer.
Born Kenrick Reginald Hymans Johnson, and originally from British Guiana, Johnson's parents sent him to the UK at the age of 15, where he attended Sir William Borlase's Grammar School, before studying medicine at Edinburgh University. Having gained an interest in dance, he sought lessons from American choreographer Buddy Bradley. It was in dance work that Johnson earned his nickname, "Snakehips", from his "fluid and flexible style".
Johnson was invited to lead Leslie Thompson's band, before going on to start his own, called "Ken Johnson and his Rhythm Swingers" (later renamed "The West Indian Orchestra"), which played jazz and swing music. The band had a residency at the London nightclub Café de Paris. It was here on 8 March 1941, during The Blitz, that two bombs came through the Rialto roof straight onto the dance floor soon after the start of a performance. Around eighty people were injured and at least thirty-four killed, including Johnson and his saxophonist, Dave "Baba" Williams.
Johnson's ashes were placed at his old school, Sir William Borlase's Grammar School, where they reside in the school chapel, together with a panel dedicated to him.
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